Staircase apparatus for mice fine motor coordination and forepaw testing

staircase for mice

HK$1,200.00 HKD
HK$1,200.00 HKD HK$1,500.00 HKD
Skip to product information
Staircase apparatus for mice fine motor coordination and forepaw testing
  • Staircase apparatus for mice fine motor coordination and forepaw testing
  • Staircase apparatus for mice fine motor coordination and forepaw testing
staircase for mice

staircase for mice

HK$1,200.00 HKD
HK$1,200.00 HKD HK$1,500.00 HKD

The BrainScience Mouse Staircase is a precision-engineered behavioral apparatus for quantitative assessment of fine forelimb motor function and independent paw use in mice. Designed around the established single-pellet skilled-reaching paradigm, the staircase enables reproducible measurement of skilled reaching, dexterity, and motivation in preclinical models of motor disorder and brain injury.

Scientific Background

The staircase test quantifies skilled forelimb reaching by presenting food pellets on a descending array of steps that require independent forepaw manipulation. Performance metrics include number of pellets retrieved, reach success rate, and lateralized paw preference, making the assay sensitive to focal lesions (e.g., middle cerebral artery occlusion, photothrombotic stroke), nigrostriatal dopaminergic depletion (6-OHDA, MPTP models of Parkinson's disease), and traumatic brain injury. The task is readily combined with complementary behavioral paradigms (cylinder test, rotarod, grip strength) and with in vivo measurement modalities such as two-photon calcium imaging, widefield fluorescence, electrophysiology, and optogenetic manipulation to link circuit-level changes to skilled motor output.

Key Features

  • Precision-milled staircase modules manufactured to Whishaw protocol dimensions for consistent inter-lab reproducibility.
  • Non-reflective, optically neutral acrylic construction with integrated camera-mounting points for synchronized video capture and high-speed filming.
  • Removable, autoclavable pellet trays and step inserts for rapid cleaning and compatibility with standard food pellet sizes (20–45 mg).
  • Modular left/right compartment design to assess independent forepaw function in hemispheric lesion studies.
  • Adjustable step depth and height inserts to adapt difficulty for aged animals or progressive rehabilitation protocols.
  • Compatibility with TTL synchronization: mounting ports and cable routing for IR beams and behavioral control systems.
  • Matte-finished surfaces and rounded edges to minimize glare and stress-related confounds during behavioral scoring.

Applications

  • Quantifying skilled reaching and motor recovery in ischemic stroke models (MCAO, photothrombosis) during rehabilitation studies.
  • Assessing unilateral motor deficits in Parkinson's disease models (6-OHDA, MPTP) and evaluating dopaminergic therapeutics.
  • Evaluating forelimb sensorimotor impairment and plasticity after controlled cortical impact or diffuse traumatic brain injury.
  • Combining with optogenetics, in vivo calcium imaging, or electrophysiology to correlate circuit activity with skilled motor behavior.
  • Behavioral phenotyping in genetic models of neurodegeneration (Huntington's disease) and neuromuscular dysfunction.
  • Stress and anxiety studies where motivated reaching and decision latency serve as readouts of affective state.
  • Pharmacological screening of compounds targeting motor performance, motivation, or sensorimotor integration.

Researchers choose BrainScience equipment for rigorous tolerances, protocol-aligned design, and integration-friendly features that facilitate multimodal neuroscience experiments. The Mouse Staircase is engineered for durability, ease of cleaning, and compatibility with imaging and behavioral control systems used in modern preclinical neuroscience research.