Advancement of a mouse locomtion system based on X-Rays

Abstract

This thesis provides a comprehensive discussion on the validation of a mouse gait laboratory for potential applications in preclinical studies. The fundamental work of this project was developed at Brainerd lab at Brown university in Providence, Rhode Island, USA. The focus is on analyzing mouse gait behavior and the motion of implanted markers, with the aim of gaining insight into gait variations and the effects of pain. The gait laboratory is utilized in conjunction with a pain model to investigate the impact of pain on gait parameters. The results revealed insights into locomotion behavior, suggesting specific configurations to achieve a steady gait in female C57BL/6J mice. The motion of implanted markers was analyzed using a rotoscoping method and mathematical code to obtain 3D joint angles, validating the gait laboratory. The analysis of gait parameters and joint angles in the pain model showed some individual variability in the response to pain-induced alterations. However, the impact of pain was not consistently detected using gait parameters or comparing joint angle movements. The limitations of the pain model, including the small sample size and potential confounding factors, are acknowledged. The findings contribute to the field of preclinical research and have implications for studying locomotion and interventions aimed at enhancing gait function in mice.