The Vibrissae-Elicited Forelimb Placing Test After Intracerebral Hemorrhage in Rodents - Animal Models of Acute Neurological Injuries: Injury and Mechanistic Assessments - page 661

extension and positioning of the animal. (The grasp should be
close to the base of the tail, so to gain more control against
jerking movements.)
4. With the other hand: clutch the skin/scruff of the neck between
the shoulders, so the head is controlled and the head move-
ment at the shoulders is limited. (Do not grasp the skin/scruff
too deeply, as to restrict breathing or forelimb use.)

1. During each placing trial the motion should be from below the
table and towards the table surface in an up-and-down motion.
Motions directed toward-and-back from the table top are not
the correct technique.
2. Only count the trials in which the animal completes one full
fl exion-extension movement. Initial: forelimb along body side
(fl exion); fi nal: forelimb resting upon the table-top
(extension).
3. Hold the animal 45° to the side from the table-top so that
isolated unilateral vibrissae stimulation may occur without an
opposite (crossed) response.
4. Ensure that the majority of unilateral whiskers are touched
along the table-top. Otherwise the sensory input to the unilat-
eral striatum will be insuffi cient, and the motor response can
be incomplete.
5. Forelimb placing should be evenly spaced in time with rhyth-
mic and gentle motion. Abrupt movements by the examiner
may activate the vestibular response, and lead to nonvibrissae
elicited placing.
6. Do not count those placing events during which the animal
uses excessive muscle tension, jerking motion, body torsion
(struggling), or placing of any limb upon the examiner's
hand.

4.4. Technical Points
(for Rats and Mice)

4.5. Controlled
Environment

1. A quiet location with dim lighting is most ideal.
2. The best time is during the fi rst few hours of the dark part of
circadian cycles.

Although training is not required to perform this test after ICH,
certain animals may display baseline asymmetric forelimb prefer-
ences. Therefore, pretesting the animals before injury is recom-
mended, since those animals with predisposing asymmetries should
be excluded from further testing.

4.6. Pretesting

Other frequently used tests for assessing sensorimotor asymmetry
after ICH include the forelimb use asymmetry (cylinder test) and
corner turn. These methods are addressed in other chapters.

4.7. Alternative
Neurobehavioral
Methods