Abstract:Objective:To systematically evaluate 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced behavioral alteration as a rat model of Parkinson’s disease.Methods:6-OHDA was microinjected into the left side of the substantia nigra striatum to damage the dopaminergic neurons in the SD rats. Three weeks later, intraperitoneal injection of APO (apomorphine) to observe the rotational behavior. The motoric function of animals was analyzed with Rotarod test and Open field test, and the rat’s muslce vibration frequency and amplitude were determined using the myoelectricity test. The severity of the behavioral alterations of the individual animals was also categorized.Results:The time of rats that remained on the rotarod was significantly reduced in model group as compared to sham group. In the open-field test, the horizontal travel distance was decreased in the model group. The myoelectricity test result showed that the muscle vibration frequency and amplitude was increased in animals receiving 6-OHDA microinjection.Conclusion:These results provided behavioral evidence in future studies to evaluate and categorize Parkinson-like behaviors in rats.

Key words:Parkinson's disease,animal models,behavioral science,evaluation method