6-OHDA Toxin Model in Mouse

The unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine mouse model has received considerable attention of late as a model complementary to the hemi-parkinsonian rat. Although both species are similar in nature, there are significant differences between the two when conducting stereotaxic surgery, such as anaesthesia maintenance, technical procedure and differences in lesion co-ordinates. In the present chapter, we therefore discuss detailed methods, problems and suitability of mouse lesion techniques. Mice are also more prone to high post-lesion mortality rates and weight loss, therefore requiring more vigilant care. We describe basic behavioural tests that determine the level of dopaminergic cell death in mice, namely: drug-induced and spontaneous rotations, elevated beam test, staircase test, cylinder test, corridor, and rotarod for assessing lesion-induced deficits in mice. A number of other tests used to assess the rat model cannot however be adapted for use in the mouse.