Adaptation of tape removal test for measurement of sensitivity in perineal area of rat.

Adaptation of tape removal test for measurement of sensitivity in perineal area of rat. Exp Neurol. 2019 Nov 07;:113097 Authors: Neumannova K, Machova-Urdzikova L, Kwok JCF, Fawcett JW, Jendelova P Abstract Regeneration after spinal cord injury is a goal of many studies. Although the most obvious target is to recover motor function, restoration of sensation can also improve the quality of life after spinal cord injury. For many patients, recovery of sensation in the perineal and genital area is a high priority. Currently there is no experimental test in rodents for measuring changes in sensation in the perineal and genital area after spinal cord injury. The aim of our study was to develop a behavioural test for measuring the sensitivity of the perineal and genital area in rats. We have modified the tape removal test used routinely to test sensorimotor deficits after stroke and spinal cord injury to test the perineal area with several variations. A small piece of tape (approximately 1 cm2) was attached to the perineal area. Time to first contact and to the removal of the tape was measured. Each rat was trained for 5 consecutive days and then tested weekly. We compared different rat strains (Wistar, Sprague-Dawley, Long-Evans and Lewis), both genders, shaving and non-shaving and different types of tape. We found that the test was suitable for all tested strains, however, Lewis rats achieved the lowest contact times, but this differen...
Source: Experimental Neurology - Category: Neurology Authors: Tags: Exp Neurol Source Type: research