Stem Cells International

Review Article

Functional Test Scales for Evaluating Cell-Based Therapies in Animal Models of Spinal Cord Injury

Table 2

Rat models of spinal cord injury (SCI) and suitable test scales.
TargetThoracic SCICervical SCI
ScaleBBBLSSCBSMartinez
ReferenceBasso et al., 1995Smith et al., 2006Gale et al., 1985Martinez et al., 2009
CategoryRecovery phaseCategory ICategory IIScoreSwim abilityScoreCategoryScoreCategoryForelimbScoreHindlimbScore
EarlyLimb movementHip0–2HL movement0–4HL movement0–45Articular movementShoulder0–2Hip0–2
Knee0–2HL alternation0–3Toe spread0–5Elbow0–2Knee0–2
Ankle0–2FL dependency0–4Placing0–5Wrist0–2Ankle0–2
Trunk positionSide0-1Trunk instability0–4Withdrawal0–15Weight supportStationary0-1Stationary0-1
Prop0-1Body angle0–2Righting0–5Active0-1Active0-1
IntermediatePaw placementSweep0–2  Inclined plane0–15Digit position 0–2 0–2
SteppingDorsal0-1  Hot plate0–5Paw placement at initial contactStepping0–2Stepping0–2
Plantar0-1  Swim test0–5
Limb coordinationCoordination0-1    Paw orientation during lift offStepping0–2Stepping0–2
LatePaw positionInitial contact0–3    
Lift off0–3    Movement 0–2 0–2
Trunk instabilityInstability0-1    Limb coordination 0–3 0–3
Tail positionUp or down0-1    Tail position 0-1 0-1
Maximum score (−normal)21(=normal)17(=severe)100Maximum score (=normal)20 20
BBB: Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan; LSS: Louisville swimming scale; CBS: combined behavioral score; HL: hindlimb; FL: Forelimb.