Figure 2. Exercise exacerbated locomotor deficits in HD mice and reduced striatal volume. (A,D) The latency to fall off an accelerating rotarod was shorter in HTR mice than in all other groups (A); * p<0.03 (S mice: WTS=6; WTR=5; HTS=7; HTR=6). The total number of falls from the rotarod over 5 min was increased in HD runners compared to WT mice (D); * p<0.02, HTR versus WTS & WTR. (B) The total distance travelled over 30 min in an open field was reduced in HD mice compared to WT mice, specifically in HTR mice compared to WTR mice; * p<0.03, HTR versus WTR (S mice: WTS=6; WTR=5; HTS=7; HTR=6). (C,F) The striatal volume (% WTS control volume) was not significantly different between groups in the S mice (C). In the L mice transgenic runners had a significantly diminished striatal volume; **p<0.05, HTR versus HTS. In addition, both HTS and HTR (L) differed significantly from WTS (*p<0.006) (F). (E) There was no significant difference between the groups in running distance over the duration of the experiment (p>0.16). Data represents mean ± SEM.