Wire Hang (Inverted Grid)

The wire hang test (also called the inverted grid or wire suspension test) measures muscular strength and endurance by placing the animal on a wire grid or single wire that is then inverted, forcing the animal to hang by its paws against gravity. The latency to fall is the primary endpoint and reflects forelimb and hindlimb grip endurance — a composite measure of neuromuscular function that includes both grip strength and fatigue resistance.

Unlike the grip strength meter (which measures peak instantaneous force), the wire hang test assesses sustained muscular effort over time, making it particularly sensitive to fatigue and endurance deficits in neuromuscular disease models. It is widely used for phenotyping mdx (Duchenne muscular dystrophy), SOD1 (ALS), and SMN-deficient (SMA) mice, where progressive hold-time reduction tracks disease progression.

ConductMaze automates timing via platform-mounted sensors that detect the moment of fall, eliminating observer variability. The software supports single-wire and grid variants, configurable maximum hang times, repeated trials with mandatory rest intervals, and body-weight normalization for cross-genotype comparisons.