Table 2.
Preclinical Tests for Neuromuscular Function and Performance in Aging Mice
| Subdomains | Specific Tests | Considerations |
|---|---|---|
| Locomotor activity | Gait speed | Strengths: Standardization & Core lab availability; conservation across species; relevance to human aging |
| Open field distance | ||
| Rotarod ability | ||
| Cage activity | Limitation: Effect of body mass & feeding | |
| Strength | Grip strength | Strengths: Measures of forelimb and/or hindlimb strength; relevance to human aging |
| Limitations: High tester sensitivity | ||
| Endurance | Treadmill/rotarod run to exhaustion | Strengths: Relevance to humans; conservation across species |
| Limitations: Standardization & Core lab availability; effect of body mass & feeding | ||
| Combined functions | Inverted cling | Strength: Simultaneous assessment of strength and endurance |
| Wire suspension | ||
| Limitations: Standardization & Core lab availability; effect of body mass & feeding | ||
| Sensory motor | Balance beam | Strengths: Gross motor co-ordination; fine motor co-ordination |
| Tape removal test | ||
| Limitations: Lack of validation in healthy aging animals; effect of body mass & feeding |