Neuropathic pain as a symptom of sensory nerve damage is a frequent side effect of
chemotherapy. The most common behavioral observation in animal models of
chemotherapy induced
polyneuropathy is the development of
mechanical allodynia, which is quantified with von Frey filaments. The data from one study, however, cannot be easily compared with other studies owing to influences of environmental factors, inter-rater variability and differences in test paradigms. To overcome these limitations, automated quantitative gait analysis was proposed as an alternative, but its usefulness for assessing animals suffering from
polyneuropathy has remained unclear. In the present study, we used a novel mouse model of
paclitaxel induced
polyneuropathy to compare results from electrophysiology and the von Frey method to gait alterations measured with the Catwalk test. To mimic recently improved clinical treatment strategies of gynecological
malignancies, we established a mouse model of dose-dense
paclitaxel therapy on the common C57Bl/6 background. In this model
paclitaxel treated animals developed
mechanical allodynia as well as reduced caudal sensory nerve action potential amplitudes indicative of a sensory
polyneuropathy. Gait analysis with the Catwalk method detected distinct alterations of gait parameters in animals suffering from sensory neuropathy, revealing a minimized contact of the hind paws with the floor. Treatment of
mechanical allodynia with
gabapentin improved altered dynamic gait parameters. This study establishes a novel mouse model for investigating the side effects of dose-dense
paclitaxel therapy and underlines the usefulness of automated gait analysis as an additional easy-to-use objective test for evaluating painful sensory
polyneuropathy.