Pole climbing test

This test assesses the balance, spatial orientation, and motor coordination of mice, though anxiety and motivation to move may also affect the test results. The test was carried out as we previously described⁶¹. The vertical pole was an all-thread metal rod (diameter: 1.27 cm; height: 66 cm), screwed to a 3.81-cm-thick plastic block (24.5 cm × 25.4 cm). The plastic block was covered with a 3.81-cm-thick green hunting seat cushion (nitrile rubber/PVC foam) to prevent the mice from injury when they fell from the pole. The height of the pole measured from the surface of the hunting seat cushion was 59 cm. The mouse was placed, head downward, on top of the pole, and the time until the mouse climbed down to the base of the pole was measured in 5 consecutive trials. Each climbing down trial was terminated after 60 s to avoid exhaustion. If the mouse fell from the pole a trial result of 60 s was given. The time to climb down (sum of the 5 trials in seconds) was calculated for each mouse.