A LOW-COST METHOD TO ANALYZE FOOTPRINT PATTERNS

Neurological dysfunction can be assessed by analysing footprint patter ns and walking tracks. However, because such an analysis is very time consuming, we developed an MS-Windows program called FOOTPRINTS which facilitates the analysis of the commonly used measures and which is co nsiderably quicker than manual scoring methods. The prints are scanned at a resolution of 75 dpi and stored as black and white bitmaps for f urther analysis. In order to validate the program, we analysed the foo tprint patterns of mice and rats, using both the program and the conve ntional manual scoring method. In the first study, the walking pattern s of 3-, 14-, and 26-month-old Janvier Wistar rats were compared, and in the second the footprint patterns of C57BL mice were assessed. Comp arison of the data obtained using the program and of the data obtained by manual scoring showed that the computer-based analysis gives relia ble results. The program saves considerable time as the analysis took 1/8th of the time needed for manual evaluation. (C) 1997 Elsevier Scie nce B.V.