A sequential methodology for integral evaluation of motor and non-motor behaviors in parkinsonian rodents

Abstract An animal model, suitable for resembling Parkinson's disease (PD) progress, should show both, motor and non-motor alterations. However, these features have been scarcely evaluated or developed in parkinsonian models induced by neurotoxins. This protocol provides modifications to original methods, allowing six different motor and non-motor behavior tests, which adequately and timely emulate the main parkinsonian sensorimotor alterations in the rat or mouse: 1) bilateral sensorimotor alterations, examined by the vibrissae test; 2) balance and motor coordination, evaluated by the uncoordinated gait test; 3) locomotor asymmetry, analyzed by the cylinder test; 4) bradykinesia, as a locomotor alteration evidenced by the open field test; 5) depressive-like behavior, judged by the forced swimming test; and 6) hyposmia, assessed by the olfactory asymmetry test. Some advantages of using these behavioral tests over others include: • No sophisticated materials or equipment are required for their application and evaluation. • They are used in rodent models for parkinsonian research, but they can also be helpful for studying other movement disorders. • These tests can accurately discriminate the affected side from the healthy one, after unilateral injury of one hemisphere, resulting in sensorimotor, olfactory or locomotor asymmetry.