Tremors are involuntary and rhythmic movements that can happen in the hands, legs, head, or voice. They can occur in the body for several reasons, including excess caffeine, stress, or as a result of an underlying neurological condition such as Parkinson’s disease. Monitoring tremors in small animals, especially mice and rats, has long been conducted, as it helps researchers gain a deeper understanding of how tremors start and what potential treatments could be developed. In this blog post, we will examine the importance of tremor monitoring and what can be learned from it.
The Importance of Mice in Tremor Monitoring
Monitoring tremors in animal models enables researchers to obtain valuable information about the underlying mechanisms of conditions that result in tremors. For example, recent studies have shown that some genetic mutations in rodents result in tremors similar to those developed by human patients with Parkinson’s disease.1 Other reasons for using animal models in tremor monitoring include identifying new biomarkers for neurological disorders, and they are genetically similar to humans, making them ideal models for understanding more about neurological disorders.
Tremors as a Biomarker for Neurological Disorders
Monitoring tremors is critical for differentiating between types of tremors, their causes, and what treatment could be made available for them. As tremors can act as biomarkers for neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, studies can monitor progression through behavioral changes in the mice, tremor events, and types of tremors, including any patterns.2
Methods of Monitoring Tremors in Mice
Several methods are available for monitoring tremors in mice and other small animal subjects, each of which has advantages and disadvantages. These include behavioral observation, electromyography, and motion sensors such as accelerometers.
Behavioral Observation
Behavioral observation is a non-invasive method that requires visual monitoring of a mouse for signs of tremors. This is a simple, cost-effective method, but its disadvantage is that it’s not sensitive enough to detect minor tremors and changes.
Electromyography (EMG)
EMG monitors the electrical activity of a mouse’s muscles during tremor events. This method is precise, but electrodes are inserted into the muscles, which may cause the animal pain or trauma.
Accelerometers and other motion sensors
Sensors are a newer method of monitoring tremors in mice and are favorable due to their non-invasive nature. During the studies, sensors are attached to the mouse’s body, allowing body movement to be measured during tremor events. It is highly accurate, but specialist equipment is required.
By utilizing tremor monitoring systems, scientists can obtain a comprehensive understanding of tremor events and disorders in animal models by monitoring progress and using this information to understand the impact on human patients.
Applications of Tremor Monitoring in Mice
We have covered some primary reasons for tremor monitoring, but we provide more detail in this section. Monitoring tremor events in mice can aid researchers in understanding the mechanisms of tremors and related neurological conditions. In turn, this can help develop new diagnostic tools and treatments for these conditions, offering patients a better quality of life. Tremor monitoring can also be used for drug discovery applications by monitoring the effectiveness of drugs designed to reduce tremor events.
San Diego Instruments
At San Diego Instruments, we specialize in providing high-quality behavioral neuroscience research instruments, including our tremor monitoring system. This system uses a highly sensitive movement sensor and is capable of differentiating between tremor events and ambulatory or stereotyped movements, thanks to its ability to record continuous movement waveforms at 128Hz for over 68 minutes. Users can also define short and long tremors to further refine their analysis, and up to eight testing stations can run from one computer.
Contact a member of San Diego Instruments today to learn more about tremor monitoring in mice and how our tremor monitor can support your applications.