Behavioural Testing
To assess the impact of the intra-nigral AAV α-synuclein infusion
combined with intra-striatal FN075 infusion on motor function, the rats
were assessed for motor impairments using the Stepping Test of forelimb
akinesia (Olsson et al., 1995), the Whisker Test of sensorimotor
integration (Schallert et al., 2000) and the Corridor Test of
sensorimotor neglect (Fitzsimmons et al., 2006, Dowd et al., 2005). In
the Stepping Test, rats were held with two hands restraining both
hindlimbs and one forelimb, they were then guided at a steady pace (90
cm in ~5 s) across a table surface. This was performed
in both the backhand and forehand directions on the ipsilateral and
contralateral sides, counting the number of adjusting steps made by the
free forelimb, and data are expressed as the number of contralateral
steps taken (mean of both directions). In the Whisker Test, rats were
held with two hands restraining both hindlimbs and one forelimb, on the
side of the unrestrained limb their whiskers were brushed against the
side of a table 10 times. This was performed on the ipsilateral and
contralateral sides, where the number of vibrissae-elicited forelimb
placings was recorded, and data are expressed as the number of
contralateral placings made. In the Corridor Test, pots containing
CocoPops® at regular intervals evenly spaced on both sides of a long
corridor was set up, rats were placed in the corridor and allowed to
freely retrieve the CocoPops®. Once a total of 20 retrievals were made
or 5 min elapsed, the trial was deemed complete. The number of
retrievals made from both the ipsilateral and contralateral sides was
counted, and data are expressed as the % contralateral retrievals made.