Table 1.

Neurological Severity Scores

		Points
Spontaneous activity	Move around, approach ≧3 walls of the cage	0
	Reach ≧1 upper rim of the cage	1
	Do not rise up at all	2
	Do not move at all	3
Motor tests	Placing rats on the floor
	Normal walk, straight path	0
	Curvilinear path	1
	Walk only in circles	2
	Fall down to the paretic side	3
	Raising rat by the tail
	Flexion of forelimb	1
	Flexion of hindlimb	1
	Head moved >10 to vertical axis w/in 30 sec	1
Sensory tests	Placing test (visual test)	1
	Placing test (tactile test)	2
	Proprioceptive test (deep sensation, pushing paw against the table edge to stimulate limb muscles)	3
Beam balance tests	Balances with steady posture	0
	Grasps side of beam	1
	Hugs the beam and one limb falls down from the beam	2
	Hugs the beam and two limbs fall down from the beam, or spins on beam (>60 sec)	3
	Attempts to balance on the beam but falls off (>40 sec)	4
	Attempts to balance on the beam but falls off (>20 sec)	5
	Falls off: no attempt to balance or hang onto the beam (<20 sec)	6
Reflexes absent and abnormal movements	Pinna reflex (head shake when touching the auditory meatus)	1
	Corneal reflex (eye blink when lightly touching the cornea with cotton)	1
	Startle reflex (motor response to a brief noise from snapping a clipboard paper)	1
	Seizures, myoclonus, myodystony	1
Maximal points		25

One point is awarded for inability to perform the tasks or for the lack of a tested reflex.