Running hamster: A new type of mutant characterized as speedy, rotative running without motor and balance deficits

Running hamster OYC (RHO) is a mutant spontaneously arisen in a closed colo ny of Armenian Hamsters and has a characteristic of speedy, rotative runnin g behavior. There are several reports which describe such mutants as abnorm al walking behavior in rodents due to ataxia or balance deficits. In this r eport, we describe results of several motor and balance tests in order to c larify whether or not RHO mutants have such disorders. RHO mutants showed n o sign of either motor or auditory deficits, and scarcely had balance defic its tested. The animals only had slight head tilting at the starting of run ning. These results suggest that RHO is a really new type of mutant which h as not previously been reported.