Table 1.

Garcia neurological evaluation criteria and scoring (a). Procedure efficiency and morbidity (b).

(a)
Neurological exam	Score
	3	2	1	9
Spontaneous activity	Moved freely, explored environment and reached the upper rim ≥3 sides of cage	Moves hesitantly, explored, and reached the upper rim <3 sides of cage	Limited movement, did not rise on hindlimbs	No purposeful movement
Symmetry of limb movement	All limbs extended symmetrically	Limbs on one side outstretched less(or more slowly) than contralateral side	limbs on one side showed minimal movement	No movement on one side
Forelimb movement	Both forelimbs outstretched, walked symmetrically	Impaired forelimb walked with asymmetric outstretch	limbs on one side showed minimal movement	No forelimb movement on one side
Climbing	Climbed to cage top easily with a frim grip	Asymmetric or impaired climbing, weak grip	Failed to climb or circled instead
Axial sensation	Equally startled to the stimulus on both sides of trunk	Slower reaction on one side compared to contralateral side	No response to stimulus on one side
Vibrissae proprioception	Turned head equally to cotton wisp on both sides	Reacted more slowly on one side compared to contralateral side	No response to stimulus on one side
(b)
Mouse #	Cannulation time (min)	Procedure complications		Garcia score mean
1–10	23.0 ±2.8	1 fatal hemorrhage		18
11–25	17.5 ± 1.0*	None		18

^*p <0.05