Forelimb stepping test software development for nigrostriatal dopamine system functionality assessment and motor parameter evaluation

BONACCORSO P.; LEDESMA MJ.; NIETO GRIMALT FE.; CABRERA R.

Córdoba

Congreso; XXI Congreso Argentino de Bioingeniería- X Jornadas de Ingeniería Clínica; 2017

SABI

Parkinson disease (PD) characteristic motor dysfunctions are tremors, stiffness,bradykinesia and gait disorders. We use an experimental adult male rat model ofhemiparkinsonism and investigate chronic estrogen administration effects in the functionality ofthe nigrostriatal dopaminergic system. Forelimb akinesia in rats is analogous to limb akinesia andgait problems seen in patients with PD. We have developed software to test adjusting steps,stepping time, step length and initiation time. The implementation tracks each animal forelimbmovement and measures those parameters. It performs statistical analysis and presents data inbar charts or Excel sheets. The software was validated by correlating manual and automatedadjusting steps. Estrogen treated animals exhibit a higher compensatory mechanism to motordysfunction, improving the number of adjusting steps and showing less bradykinesia. Also, there isa beneficial effect of estrogen-related to a higher average energy that could be enhancing steppingtime and forelimb movement magnitude. In conclusion, this software development andimplementation is a worthy tool to in vivo infer on forelimb akinesia. By applying it, we obtain anew sensitive approach in the effect of estrogen as a neuroprotective drug in PD as it restoresbalance, mobility, speed and also diminishes bradykinesia