Table 1.

A set of neurologic severity scores used to grade neurologic function [16].

Modified neurological severity score (mNSS)	Points
Motor tests
Raising the rat by the tail	3
1 Flexion of forelimb
1 Flexion of hind limb
1 Head moved more than 10 to the vertical axis within 30 s
Walking on the floor (normal = 0; maximum = 3)	3
O Normal walk
1 Inability to walk straight
2 Circling toward the paretic side
3 Falling down to the paretic side
Sensory tests	2
1 Placing test (visual and tactile test)
2 Proprioceptive test (deep sensation, pushing the paw against the table edge to stimulate limb muscles)
Beam balance tests (normal = 0; maximum = 6)	6
0 Balances with steady posture
1 Grasps side of beam
2 Hugs the beam and one limb falls down from the beam
3 Hugs the beam and two limbs fall down from the beam, or spins on beam (>60 s)
4 Attempts to balance on the beam but falls off (>40 s)
5 Attempts to balance on the beam but falls off (>20 s)
6 Falls off: no attempt to balance or hang on to the beam (>20 s)
Reflexes absent and abnormal movements	4
1 Pinna reflex (a head shake when the auditory meatus is touched)
1 Corneal reflex (an eye blink when the cornea is lightly touched with cotton)
1 Startle reflex (a motor response to a brief noise from snapping a clipboard and paper)
1 Seizures, mycolonus, myodystony
Maximum points	18

One point is awarded for the inability to perform the task or for the lack of a tested reflex: 13-18 = severe injury; 7-12 = moderate injury and 1-6 = mild injury.