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Benakis C, Liesz A. The gut-brain axis in ischemic stroke: its relevance in pathology and as a therapeutic target. Neurol Res Pract 2022; 4:57. [PMCID: PMC9673423 DOI: 10.1186/s42466-022-00222-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The gut contains the largest reservoir of microorganisms of the human body, termed as the gut microbiota which emerges as a key pathophysiological factor in health and disease. The gut microbiota has been demonstrated to influence various brain functions along the “gut-brain axis”. Stroke leads to intestinal dysmotility and leakiness of the intestinal barrier which are associated with change of the gut microbiota composition and its interaction with the human host. Growing evidence over the past decade has demonstrated an important role of these post-stroke changes along the gut-brain axis to contribute to stroke pathology and be potentially druggable targets for future therapies. The impact of the gut microbiota on brain health and repair after stroke might be attributed to the diverse functions of gut bacteria in producing neuroactive compounds, modulating the host’s metabolism and immune status. Therefore, a better understanding on the gut-brain axis after stroke and its integration in a broader concept of stroke pathology could open up new avenues for stroke therapy. Here, we discuss current concepts from preclinical models and human studies on the bi-directional communication along the microbiota-gut-brain axis in stroke.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corinne Benakis
- grid.5252.00000 0004 1936 973XInstitute for Stroke and Dementia Research (ISD), University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Arthur Liesz
- grid.5252.00000 0004 1936 973XInstitute for Stroke and Dementia Research (ISD), University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany ,grid.452617.3Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy), Munich, Germany
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2
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Bao Z, Zhang Z, Zhou G, Zhang A, Shao A, Zhou F. Novel Mechanisms and Therapeutic Targets for Ischemic Stroke: A Focus on Gut Microbiota. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:871720. [PMID: 35656406 PMCID: PMC9152006 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.871720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Ischemic stroke is the most common type of stroke with limited treatment options. Although the pathological mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets of ischemic stroke have been comprehensively studied, no effective therapies were translated into clinical practice. Gut microbiota is a complex and diverse dynamic metabolic ecological balance network in the body, including a large number of bacteria, archaea, and eukaryotes. The composition, quantity and distribution in gut microbiota are found to be associated with the pathogenesis of many diseases, such as individual immune abnormalities, metabolic disorders, and neurodegeneration. New insight suggests that ischemic stroke may lead to changes in the gut microbiota and the alterations of gut microbiota may determine stroke outcomes in turn. The link between gut microbiota and stroke is expected to provide new perspectives for ischemic stroke treatment. In this review, we discuss the gut microbiota alterations during ischemic stroke and gut microbiota-related stroke pathophysiology and complications. Finally, we highlight the role of the gut microbiota as a potential therapeutic target for ischemic stroke and summarize the microbiome-based treatment options that can improve the recovery of stroke patients.
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Shim R, Wen SW, Wanrooy BJ, Rank M, Thirugnanachandran T, Ho L, Sepehrizadeh T, de Veer M, Srikanth VK, Ma H, Phan TG, Sobey CG, Wong CHY. Stroke Severity, and Not Cerebral Infarct Location, Increases the Risk of Infection. Transl Stroke Res 2019; 11:387-401. [PMID: 31709500 DOI: 10.1007/s12975-019-00738-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2019] [Revised: 09/09/2019] [Accepted: 09/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Infection is a leading cause of death in patients with stroke; however, the impact of cerebral infarct size or location on infectious outcome is unclear. To examine the effect of infarct size on post-stroke infection, we utilised the intraluminal middle-cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) mouse model of ischemic stroke and adjusted the duration of arterial occlusion. At 1 day following stroke onset, the proportion of mice with infection was significantly greater in mice that had larger infarct sizes. Additionally, the presence of lung infection in these mice with severe strokes extended past 2 days, suggestive of long-term immune impairment. At the acute phase, our data demonstrated an inverse relationship between infarct volume and the number of circulating leukocytes, indicating the elevated risk of infection in more severe stroke is associated with reduced cellularity in peripheral blood, owing predominately to markedly decreased lymphocyte numbers. In addition, the stroke-induced reduction of lymphocyte-to-neutrophil ratio was also evident in the lung of all post-stroke animals. To investigate the effect of infarct location on post-stroke infection, we additionally performed a photothrombotic (PT) model of stroke and using an innovative systematic approach of analysis, we found the location of cerebral infarct does not impact on the susceptibility of post-stroke infection, confirming the greater role of infarct volume over infarct location in the susceptibility to infection. Our experimental findings were validated in a clinical setting and reinforced that stroke severity, and not infarct location, influences the risk of infection after stroke.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raymond Shim
- Centre for Inflammatory Diseases, Department of Medicine at Monash Health, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash Medical Centre, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3168, Australia
| | - Shu Wen Wen
- Centre for Inflammatory Diseases, Department of Medicine at Monash Health, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash Medical Centre, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3168, Australia
| | - Brooke J Wanrooy
- Centre for Inflammatory Diseases, Department of Medicine at Monash Health, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash Medical Centre, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3168, Australia
| | - Michelle Rank
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
| | - Tharani Thirugnanachandran
- Stroke and Ageing Research Group, Department of Medicine at Monash Health, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash Medical Centre, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Luke Ho
- Centre for Inflammatory Diseases, Department of Medicine at Monash Health, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash Medical Centre, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3168, Australia
- Department of Medicine (Academic Unit), Peninsula Clinical School, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Frankston, Victoria, Australia
| | - Tara Sepehrizadeh
- Monash Biomedical Imaging, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Michael de Veer
- Monash Biomedical Imaging, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Velandai K Srikanth
- Department of Medicine (Academic Unit), Peninsula Clinical School, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Frankston, Victoria, Australia
| | - Henry Ma
- Stroke and Ageing Research Group, Department of Medicine at Monash Health, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash Medical Centre, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Thanh G Phan
- Stroke and Ageing Research Group, Department of Medicine at Monash Health, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash Medical Centre, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Christopher G Sobey
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
| | - Connie H Y Wong
- Centre for Inflammatory Diseases, Department of Medicine at Monash Health, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash Medical Centre, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3168, Australia.
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Wen SW, Shim R, Ho L, Wanrooy BJ, Srikhanta YN, Prame Kumar K, Nicholls AJ, Shen SJ, Sepehrizadeh T, Veer M, Srikanth VK, Ma H, Phan TG, Lyras D, Wong CHY. Advanced age promotes colonic dysfunction and gut-derived lung infection after stroke. Aging Cell 2019; 18:e12980. [PMID: 31199577 PMCID: PMC6718525 DOI: 10.1111/acel.12980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2019] [Revised: 04/16/2019] [Accepted: 05/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacterial infection a leading cause of death among patients with stroke, with elderly patients often presenting with more debilitating outcomes. The findings from our retrospective study, supported by previous clinical reports, showed that increasing age is an early predictor for developing fatal infectious complications after stroke. However, exactly how and why older individuals are more susceptible to infection after stroke remains unclear. Using a mouse model of transient ischaemic stroke, we demonstrate that older mice (>12 months) present with greater spontaneous bacterial lung infections compared to their younger counterparts (7–10 weeks) after stroke. Importantly, we provide evidence that older poststroke mice exhibited elevated intestinal inflammation and disruption in gut barriers critical in maintaining colonic integrity following stroke, including reduced expression of mucin and tight junction proteins. In addition, our data support the notion that the localized pro‐inflammatory microenvironment driven by increased tumour necrosis factor‐α production in the colon of older mice facilitates the translocation and dissemination of orally inoculated bacteria to the lung following stroke onset. Therefore, findings of this study demonstrate that exacerbated dysfunction of the intestinal barrier in advanced age promotes translocation of gut‐derived bacteria and contributes to the increased risk to poststroke bacterial infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shu Wen Wen
- Department of Medicine, Centre for Inflammatory Diseases, School of Clinical Sciences Monash University Clayton Victoria Australia
| | - Raymond Shim
- Department of Medicine, Centre for Inflammatory Diseases, School of Clinical Sciences Monash University Clayton Victoria Australia
| | - Luke Ho
- Department of Medicine, Centre for Inflammatory Diseases, School of Clinical Sciences Monash University Clayton Victoria Australia
- Department of Medicine (Academic Unit), Peninsula Clinical School, Central Clinical School Monash University Frankston Victoria Australia
| | - Brooke J. Wanrooy
- Department of Medicine, Centre for Inflammatory Diseases, School of Clinical Sciences Monash University Clayton Victoria Australia
| | - Yogitha N. Srikhanta
- Department of Microbiology, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute Monash University Clayton Victoria Australia
| | - Kathryn Prame Kumar
- Department of Medicine, Centre for Inflammatory Diseases, School of Clinical Sciences Monash University Clayton Victoria Australia
| | - Alyce J. Nicholls
- Department of Medicine, Centre for Inflammatory Diseases, School of Clinical Sciences Monash University Clayton Victoria Australia
| | - SJ. Shen
- Department of Medicine, Centre for Inflammatory Diseases, School of Clinical Sciences Monash University Clayton Victoria Australia
| | - Tara Sepehrizadeh
- Monash Biomedical Imaging Monash University Clayton Victoria Australia
| | - Michael Veer
- Monash Biomedical Imaging Monash University Clayton Victoria Australia
| | - Velandai K. Srikanth
- Department of Medicine (Academic Unit), Peninsula Clinical School, Central Clinical School Monash University Frankston Victoria Australia
| | - Henry Ma
- Stroke and Ageing Research Group, Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash Medical Centre Monash University Clayton Victoria Australia
| | - Thanh G. Phan
- Stroke and Ageing Research Group, Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash Medical Centre Monash University Clayton Victoria Australia
| | - Dena Lyras
- Department of Microbiology, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute Monash University Clayton Victoria Australia
| | - Connie H. Y. Wong
- Department of Medicine, Centre for Inflammatory Diseases, School of Clinical Sciences Monash University Clayton Victoria Australia
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Wen SW, Wong CHY. Aging- and vascular-related pathologies. Microcirculation 2018; 26:e12463. [PMID: 29846990 DOI: 10.1111/micc.12463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2018] [Accepted: 05/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Our aging population is set to grow considerably in the coming decades. In fact, the number of individuals older than 65 years will double by 2050. This projected increase in people living with extended life expectancy represents an inevitable upsurge in the presentation of age-related pathologies. However, our current understanding of the impact of aging on a number of biological processes is unfortunately inadequate. Cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and neurodegenerative diseases are particularly prevalent in the elderly population. Intriguingly, these pathologies are all associated with vascular dysfunction, suggesting that the process of aging can induce structural and functional impairments in vascular networks. Together with elevated cell senescence, pre-existing comorbidities, and the emerging concept of age-associated inflammatory imbalance, impaired vascular functions can significantly increase one's risk in acquiring age-related diseases. In this short review, we highlight some current clinical and experimental evidence of how biological aging contributes to three vascular-associated pathologies: atherosclerosis, stroke, and Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shu Wen Wen
- Centre for Inflammatory Diseases, Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Vic., Australia
| | - Connie H Y Wong
- Centre for Inflammatory Diseases, Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Vic., Australia
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Wang H, Hong X, Wang Y. Mitochondrial Repair Effects of Oxygen Treatment on Alzheimer's Disease Model Mice Revealed by Quantitative Proteomics. J Alzheimers Dis 2018; 56:875-883. [PMID: 28059791 DOI: 10.3233/jad-161010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Mitochondrial dysfunction plays a pivotal role in Alzheimer's disease (AD), even before signs of AD pathology are evident. Our previous research has shown that oxygen treatment can improve cognitive function in AD model mice. To address whether oxygen treatment is beneficial to mitochondrial biology, we analyzed differential expressions of hippocampal mitochondrial proteins in AD model mice given supplementary oxygen. Numerous respiratory chain, Kreb's cycle, and glycolysis proteins were upregulated significantly after oxygen treatment, suggesting that oxygen therapy can alleviate mitochondrial damage. Furthermore, the treatment was associated with decreased expressions of some AD biomarkers, suggesting oxygen treatment to be a potential therapy for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Wang
- College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Microbial Genetic Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xiaoyu Hong
- College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Microbial Genetic Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yong Wang
- College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresources and Ecology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
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Wang H, Wang Y, Hong X, Li S, Wang Y. Quantitative Proteomics Reveals the Mechanism of Oxygen Treatment on Lenses of Alzheimer's Disease Model Mice. J Alzheimers Dis 2018; 54:275-86. [PMID: 27567828 DOI: 10.3233/jad-160263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease with well-characterized pathological features. Yet the underlying mechanisms have not been resolved and an effective therapeutic approach is lacking. Cerebral hypoxia is considered a risk factor of AD. OBJECTIVE We tested whether oxygen supplementation can relieve AD symptoms and how it affects the expression levels of proteins in the lens. METHODS Triple transgenic AD model (3xTg-AD) mice were divided into oxygen treated (OT) and control (Ctrl) groups. Their cognitive performances were tested in a Morris water maze (MWM) paradigm. Then, their eye lens tissues were subjected to quantitative proteomics analysis by the iTRAQ (isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification) method. The up- and downregulated proteins were classified according to a Gene Ontology (GO) database in PANTHER. Behavioral and proteomic data were compared between the groups. RESULTS Mice in the OT group had better learning and memorizing performance compared with the Ctrl group in MWM test. Lenses from the OT group had 205 differentially regulated proteins, relative to lenses from the Ctrl group, including proteins that are involved in the clearance of amyloid β-protein. CONCLUSION The results of this study indicate that oxygen treatment can improve cognitive function in AD model mice and alters protein expression in a manner consistent with improved redox regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Wang
- College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Microbial Genetic Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Ying Wang
- College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Microbial Genetic Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xiaoyu Hong
- College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Microbial Genetic Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Shuiming Li
- College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresources and Ecology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yong Wang
- College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresources and Ecology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
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Moon JM, Chun BJ, Shin MH, Lee SD. Serum N-terminal proBNP, not troponin I, at presentation predicts long-term neurologic outcome in acute charcoal-burning carbon monoxide intoxication. Clin Toxicol (Phila) 2017; 56:412-420. [DOI: 10.1080/15563650.2017.1394464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jeong Mi Moon
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, South Korea
| | - Byeong Jo Chun
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, South Korea
| | - Min Ho Shin
- Department of Preventive medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, South Korea
| | - Seung Do Lee
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, South Korea
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Avivi-Arber L, Sessle BJ. Jaw sensorimotor control in healthy adults and effects of ageing. J Oral Rehabil 2017; 45:50-80. [DOI: 10.1111/joor.12554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- L. Avivi-Arber
- Faculty of Dentistry; University of Toronto; Toronto ON Canada
| | - B. J. Sessle
- Faculty of Dentistry; University of Toronto; Toronto ON Canada
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10
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Riquier AJ, Sollars SI. Microglia density decreases in the rat rostral nucleus of the solitary tract across development and increases in an age-dependent manner following denervation. Neuroscience 2017; 355:36-48. [PMID: 28478126 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2017.04.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2016] [Revised: 04/17/2017] [Accepted: 04/24/2017] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Microglia are critical for developmental pruning and immune response to injury, and are implicated in facilitating neural plasticity. The rodent gustatory system is highly plastic, particularly during development, and outcomes following nerve injury are more severe in developing animals. The mechanisms underlying developmental plasticity in the taste system are largely unknown, making microglia an attractive candidate. To better elucidate microglia's role in the taste system, we examined these cells in the rostral nucleus of the solitary tract (rNTS) during normal development and following transection of the chorda tympani taste nerve (CTX). Rats aged 5, 10, 25, or 50days received unilateral CTX or no surgery and were sacrificed four days later. Brain tissue was stained for Iba1 or CD68, and both the density and morphology of microglia were assessed on the intact and transected sides of the rNTS. We found that the intact rNTS of neonatal rats (9-14days) shows a high density of microglia, most of which appear reactive. By 29days of age, microglia density significantly decreased to levels not significantly different from adults and microglia morphology had matured, with most cells appearing ramified. CD68-negative microglia density increased following CTX and was most pronounced for juvenile and adult rats. Our results show that microglia density is highest during times of normal gustatory afferent pruning. Furthermore, the quantity of the microglia response is higher in the mature system than in neonates. These findings link increased microglia presence with instances of normal developmental and injury induced alterations in the rNTS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew J Riquier
- Department of Psychology, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, NE 68182, USA
| | - Suzanne I Sollars
- Department of Psychology, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, NE 68182, USA.
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11
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Adamczak J, Aswendt M, Kreutzer C, Rotheneichner P, Riou A, Selt M, Beyrau A, Uhlenküken U, Diedenhofen M, Nelles M, Aigner L, Couillard-Despres S, Hoehn M. Neurogenesis upregulation on the healthy hemisphere after stroke enhances compensation for age-dependent decrease of basal neurogenesis. Neurobiol Dis 2016; 99:47-57. [PMID: 28007584 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2016.12.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2016] [Revised: 12/12/2016] [Accepted: 12/18/2016] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide with no treatment for the chronic phase available. Interestingly, an endogenous repair program comprising inflammation and neurogenesis is known to modulate stroke outcome. Several studies have shown that neurogenesis decreases with age but the therapeutic importance of endogenous neurogenesis for recovery from cerebral diseases has been indicated as its ablation leads to stroke aggravation and worsened outcome. A detailed characterization of the neurogenic response after stroke related to ageing would help to develop novel and targeted therapies. In an innovative approach, we used the DCX-Luc mouse, a transgenic model expressing luciferase in doublecortin-positive neuroblasts, to monitor the neurogenic response following middle cerebral artery occlusion over three weeks in three age groups (2, 6, 12months) by optical imaging while the stroke lesion was monitored by quantitative MRI. The individual longitudinal and noninvasive time profiles provided exclusive insight into age-dependent decrease in basal neurogenesis and neurogenic upregulation in response to stroke which are not accessible by conventional BrdU-based measures of cell proliferation. For cortico-striatal strokes the maximal upregulation occurred at 4days post stroke followed by a continuous decrease to basal levels by three weeks post stroke. Older animals effectively compensated for reduced basal neurogenesis by an enhanced sensitivity to the cerebral lesion, resulting in upregulated neurogenesis levels approaching those measured in young mice. In middle aged and older mice, but not in the youngest ones, additional upregulation of neurogenesis was observed in the contralateral healthy hemisphere. This further substantiates the increased propensity of older brains to respond to lesion situation. Our results clearly support the therapeutic relevance of endogenous neurogenesis for stroke recovery and particularly in older brains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Adamczak
- In-vivo-NMR Laboratory, Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research, Gleuelerstrasse 50, 50931 Cologne, Germany; Percuros B.V., Drienerlolaan 5-Zuidhorst, 7522 NB Enschede, The Netherlands
| | - Markus Aswendt
- In-vivo-NMR Laboratory, Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research, Gleuelerstrasse 50, 50931 Cologne, Germany
| | - Christina Kreutzer
- Institute of Experimental Neuroregeneration, Spinal Cord Injury and Tissue Regeneration Center, Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg, Strubergasse 21, 5020 Salzburg, Austria; Spinal Cord Injury and Tissue Regeneration Center Salzburg (SCI-TReCS), Austria
| | - Peter Rotheneichner
- Institute of Experimental Neuroregeneration, Spinal Cord Injury and Tissue Regeneration Center, Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg, Strubergasse 21, 5020 Salzburg, Austria; Spinal Cord Injury and Tissue Regeneration Center Salzburg (SCI-TReCS), Austria
| | - Adrien Riou
- In-vivo-NMR Laboratory, Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research, Gleuelerstrasse 50, 50931 Cologne, Germany
| | - Marion Selt
- In-vivo-NMR Laboratory, Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research, Gleuelerstrasse 50, 50931 Cologne, Germany
| | - Andreas Beyrau
- In-vivo-NMR Laboratory, Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research, Gleuelerstrasse 50, 50931 Cologne, Germany
| | - Ulla Uhlenküken
- In-vivo-NMR Laboratory, Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research, Gleuelerstrasse 50, 50931 Cologne, Germany
| | - Michael Diedenhofen
- In-vivo-NMR Laboratory, Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research, Gleuelerstrasse 50, 50931 Cologne, Germany
| | - Melanie Nelles
- In-vivo-NMR Laboratory, Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research, Gleuelerstrasse 50, 50931 Cologne, Germany
| | - Ludwig Aigner
- Institute of Molecular Regenerative Medicine, Spinal Cord Injury and Tissue Regeneration Center, Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg, Strubergasse 21, 5020 Salzburg, Austria; Spinal Cord Injury and Tissue Regeneration Center Salzburg (SCI-TReCS), Austria
| | - Sebastien Couillard-Despres
- Institute of Experimental Neuroregeneration, Spinal Cord Injury and Tissue Regeneration Center, Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg, Strubergasse 21, 5020 Salzburg, Austria; Spinal Cord Injury and Tissue Regeneration Center Salzburg (SCI-TReCS), Austria
| | - Mathias Hoehn
- In-vivo-NMR Laboratory, Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research, Gleuelerstrasse 50, 50931 Cologne, Germany; Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands; Percuros B.V., Drienerlolaan 5-Zuidhorst, 7522 NB Enschede, The Netherlands.
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12
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Rodent Gymnastics: Neurobehavioral Assays in Ischemic Stroke. Mol Neurobiol 2016; 54:6750-6761. [PMID: 27752994 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-016-0195-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2016] [Accepted: 10/04/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Despite years of research, most preclinical trials on ischemic stroke have remained unsuccessful owing to poor methodological and statistical standards leading to "translational roadblocks." Various behavioral tests have been established to evaluate traits such as sensorimotor function, cognitive and social interactions, and anxiety-like and depression-like behavior. A test's validity is of cardinal importance as it influences the chance of a successful translation of preclinical results to clinical settings. The mission of choosing a behavioral test for a particular project is, therefore, imperative and the present review aims to provide a structured way to evaluate rodent behavioral tests with implications in ischemic stroke.
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13
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Turner RC, DiPasquale K, Logsdon AF, Tan Z, Naser ZJ, Huber JD, Rosen CL, Lucke-Wold BP. The role for infarct volume as a surrogate measure of functional outcome following ischemic stroke. JOURNAL OF SYSTEMS AND INTEGRATIVE NEUROSCIENCE 2016; 2. [PMID: 28299202 PMCID: PMC5347398 DOI: 10.15761/jsin.1000136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The failed translation of proposed therapeutic agents for ischemic stroke from preclinical to clinical studies has led to increased scrutiny of preclinical studies, namely the model and outcome measures utilized. Preclinical studies routinely use infarct volume as an experimental endpoint or measure in studies employing young-adult, healthy male animals despite the fact that clinically, ischemic stroke is a disease of the elderly and improvements in functional outcome from pre- to post-intervention remains the most widely utilized assessment. The validity of infarct volume as a surrogate measure for functional outcome remains unclear in clinical studies as well as preclinical studies, particularly those utilizing a more clinically relevant aged thromboembolic model. In this work, we will address the relationship between acute and chronic functional outcome and infarct volume using a variety of functional assessments ranging from more simplistic, subjective measurements such as the modified Neurologic Severity Score (mNSS), to more complex, objective measurements such as grip strength and inclined plane.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan C Turner
- Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia 26506, USA; Center for Neuroscience, School of Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia 26506, USA
| | - Kenneth DiPasquale
- Center for Neuroscience, School of Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia 26506, USA; Department of Basic Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia 26506, USA
| | - Aric F Logsdon
- Center for Neuroscience, School of Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia 26506, USA; Department of Basic Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia 26506, USA
| | - Zhenjun Tan
- Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia 26506, USA; Center for Neuroscience, School of Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia 26506, USA
| | - Zachary J Naser
- Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia 26506, USA; Center for Neuroscience, School of Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia 26506, USA
| | - Jason D Huber
- Center for Neuroscience, School of Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia 26506, USA; Department of Basic Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia 26506, USA
| | - Charles L Rosen
- Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia 26506, USA; Center for Neuroscience, School of Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia 26506, USA
| | - Brandon P Lucke-Wold
- Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia 26506, USA; Center for Neuroscience, School of Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia 26506, USA
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Livingston-Thomas J, Nelson P, Karthikeyan S, Antonescu S, Jeffers MS, Marzolini S, Corbett D. Exercise and Environmental Enrichment as Enablers of Task-Specific Neuroplasticity and Stroke Recovery. Neurotherapeutics 2016; 13:395-402. [PMID: 26868018 PMCID: PMC4824016 DOI: 10.1007/s13311-016-0423-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Improved stroke care has resulted in greater survival, but >50% of patients have chronic disabilities and 33% are institutionalized. While stroke rehabilitation is helpful, recovery is limited and the most significant gains occur in the first 2-3 months. Stroke triggers an early wave of gene and protein changes, many of which are potentially beneficial for recovery. It is likely that these molecular changes are what subserve spontaneous recovery. Two interventions, aerobic exercise and environmental enrichment, have pleiotropic actions that influence many of the same molecular changes associated with stroke injury and subsequent spontaneous recovery. Enrichment paradigms have been used for decades in adult and neonatal animal models of brain injury and are now being adapted for use in the clinic. Aerobic exercise enhances motor recovery and helps reduce depression after stroke. While exercise attenuates many of the signs associated with normal aging (e.g., hippocampal atrophy), its ability to reverse cognitive impairments subsequent to stroke is less evident. It may be that stroke, like other diseases such as cancer, needs to use multimodal treatments that augment complimentary neurorestorative processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Livingston-Thomas
- Canadian Partnership for Stroke Recovery, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Paul Nelson
- Canadian Partnership for Stroke Recovery, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Sudhir Karthikeyan
- Canadian Partnership for Stroke Recovery, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Sabina Antonescu
- Canadian Partnership for Stroke Recovery, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Matthew Strider Jeffers
- Canadian Partnership for Stroke Recovery, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Susan Marzolini
- Canadian Partnership for Stroke Recovery, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Dale Corbett
- Canadian Partnership for Stroke Recovery, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
- Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL, Canada.
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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15
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Gaudin A, Andrieux K, Couvreur P. Nanomedicines and stroke: Toward translational research. J Drug Deliv Sci Technol 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jddst.2015.07.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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16
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Hattori T, Sato Y, Kondo T, Ichinohashi Y, Sugiyama Y, Yamamoto M, Kotani T, Hirata H, Hirakawa A, Suzuki S, Tsuji M, Ikeda T, Nakanishi K, Kojima S, Blomgren K, Hayakawa M. Administration of umbilical cord blood cells transiently decreased hypoxic-ischemic brain injury in neonatal rats. Dev Neurosci 2015; 37:95-104. [PMID: 25720519 DOI: 10.1159/000368396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2013] [Accepted: 09/12/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate whether the administration of mononuclear cells derived from human umbilical cord blood cells (UCBCs) could ameliorate hypoxic-ischemic brain injury in a neonatal rat model. The left carotid arteries of 7-day-old rats were ligated, and the rats were then exposed to 8% oxygen for 60 min. Mononuclear cells derived from UCBCs using the Ficoll-Hypaque technique were injected intraperitoneally 6 h after the insult (1.0 × 10(7) cells). Twenty-four hours after the insult, the number of cells positive for the oxidative stress markers 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal and nitrotyrosine, in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus in the UCBC-treated group, decreased by 36 and 42%, respectively, compared with those in the control group. In addition, the number of cells positive for the apoptosis markers active caspase-3 and apoptosis-inducing factor decreased by 53 and 58%, respectively. The number of activated microglia (ED1-positive cells) was 51% lower in the UCBC group compared with the control group. In a gait analysis performed 2 weeks after the insult, there were no significant differences among the sham-operated, control and UCBC groups. An active avoidance test using a shuttle box the following week also revealed no significant differences among the groups. Neither the volumes of the hippocampi, corpus callosum and cortices nor the numbers of neurons in the hippocampus were different between the UCBC and control groups. In summary, a single intraperitoneal injection of UCBC-derived mononuclear cells 6 h after an ischemic insult was associated with a transient reduction in numbers of apoptosis and oxidative stress marker-positive cells, but it did not induce long-term morphological or functional protection. Repeated administration or a combination treatment may be required to achieve sustained protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tetsuo Hattori
- Division of Neonatology, Center for Maternal-Neonatal Care, Nagoya University Hospital, Nagoya, Japan
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Yoshikawa A, Nakamachi T, Shibato J, Rakwal R, Shioda S. Comprehensive analysis of neonatal versus adult unilateral decortication in a mouse model using behavioral, neuroanatomical, and DNA microarray approaches. Int J Mol Sci 2014; 15:22492-517. [PMID: 25490135 PMCID: PMC4284721 DOI: 10.3390/ijms151222492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2014] [Revised: 11/17/2014] [Accepted: 11/20/2014] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Previously, studying the development, especially of corticospinal neurons, it was concluded that the main compensatory mechanism after unilateral brain injury in rat at the neonatal stage was due in part to non-lesioned ipsilateral corticospinal neurons that escaped selection by axonal elimination or neuronal apoptosis. However, previous results suggesting compensatory mechanism in neonate brain were not correlated with high functional recovery. Therefore, what is the difference among neonate and adult in the context of functional recovery and potential mechanism(s) therein? Here, we utilized a brain unilateral decortication mouse model and compared motor functional recovery mechanism post-neonatal brain hemisuction (NBH) with adult brain hemisuction (ABH). Three analyses were performed: (1) Quantitative behavioral analysis of forelimb movements using ladder walking test; (2) neuroanatomical retrograde tracing analysis of unlesioned side corticospinal neurons; and (3) differential global gene expressions profiling in unlesioned-side neocortex (rostral from bregma) in NBH and ABH on a 8 × 60 K mouse whole genome Agilent DNA chip. Behavioral data confirmed higher recovery ability in NBH over ABH is related to non-lesional frontal neocortex including rostral caudal forelimb area. A first inventory of differentially expressed genes genome-wide in the NBH and ABH mouse model is provided as a resource for the scientific community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akira Yoshikawa
- Department of Anatomy, Showa University School of Medicine, 1-5-8 Hatanodai, Shinagawa, Tokyo 142-8555, Japan.
| | - Tomoya Nakamachi
- Department of Anatomy, Showa University School of Medicine, 1-5-8 Hatanodai, Shinagawa, Tokyo 142-8555, Japan.
| | - Junko Shibato
- Department of Anatomy, Showa University School of Medicine, 1-5-8 Hatanodai, Shinagawa, Tokyo 142-8555, Japan.
| | - Randeep Rakwal
- Department of Anatomy, Showa University School of Medicine, 1-5-8 Hatanodai, Shinagawa, Tokyo 142-8555, Japan.
| | - Seiji Shioda
- Department of Anatomy, Showa University School of Medicine, 1-5-8 Hatanodai, Shinagawa, Tokyo 142-8555, Japan.
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Fathali N, Ostrowski RP, Hasegawa Y, Lekic T, Tang J, Zhang JH. Splenic immune cells in experimental neonatal hypoxia-ischemia. Transl Stroke Res 2014; 4:208-19. [PMID: 23626659 DOI: 10.1007/s12975-012-0239-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Neuroimmune processes contribute to hypoxic-ischemic damage in the immature brain and may play a role in the progression of particular variants of neonatal encephalopathy. The present study was designed to elucidate molecular mediators of interactions between astrocytes, neurons and infiltrating peripheral immune cells after experimental neonatal hypoxia-ischemia (HI). Splenectomy was performed on postnatal day-7 Sprague-Dawley rats 3 days prior to HI surgery; in which the right common carotid artery was permanently ligated followed by 2 hours of hypoxia (8% O2). Quantitative analysis showed that natural killer (NK) and T cell expression was reduced in spleen but increased in the brain following HI. Elevations in cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression after HI by immune cells promoted interleukin-15 expression in astrocytes and infiltration of inflammatory cells to site of injury; additionally, down-regulated the pro-survival protein, phosphoinositide-3-kinase, resulting in caspase-3 mediated neuronal death. The removal of the largest pool of peripheral immune cells in the body by splenectomy, COX-2 inhibitors, as well as rendering NK cells inactive by CD161 knockdown, significantly ameliorated cerebral infarct volume at 72 hours, diminished body weight loss and brain and systemic organ atrophy, and reduced neurobehavioral deficits at 3 weeks. Herein we demonstrate with the use of surgical approach (splenectomy), with pharmacological loss-gain function approach using COX-2 inhibitors/agonists, as well as with NK cell-type specific siRNA that after neonatal HI, the infiltrating peripheral immune cells may modulate downstream targets of cell death and neuroinflammation by COX-2 regulated signals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nancy Fathali
- Department of Human Anatomy and Pathology, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, California, USA
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19
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The influence of aging on poststroke depression using a rat model via middle cerebral artery occlusion. COGNITIVE AFFECTIVE & BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE 2014; 13:847-59. [PMID: 23761136 DOI: 10.3758/s13415-013-0177-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Poststroke depression (PSD) is the most frequent psychological sequela following stroke. While previous studies describe the impact of age on brain infarct volume, brain edema, and blood-brain barrier (BBB) breakdown following ischemia, the role of age on PSD has yet to be described. Here, we examine the influence of age on PSD progression in a rat model of PSD by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). One hundred forty-three rats were divided into three groups. 48 rats 20 weeks of age underwent a sham procedure, 51 rats 20 weeks of age had MCAO, and 44 rats 22-26 months of age had MCAO. Groups were further divided into two subgroups. The first subgroup was used to measure infarct lesion volume, brain edema, and BBB breakdown at 24 h. In the second subgroup at 3 weeks after MCAO, rats were subjected to a sucrose preference test, two-way shuttle avoidance task, forced swimming test, and a brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) protein level measurement. Total and striatal infarct volume, brain edema, and BBB breakdown in the striatum were increased in older rats, as compared with younger rats. While both old and young rats exhibited depressive-like behaviors on each of the behavioral tests and lower BDNF levels post-MCAO, as compared with control rats, there were no differences between old and young rats. Although older rats suffered from larger infarct volumes, increased brain edema and more BBB disruption following MCAO, the lack of behavioral differences between young and old rats suggests that there was no effect of rat age on the incidence of PSD.
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Kim GS, Cho S, Nelson JW, Zipfel GJ, Han BH. TrkB agonist antibody pretreatment enhances neuronal survival and long-term sensory motor function following hypoxic ischemic injury in neonatal rats. PLoS One 2014; 9:e88962. [PMID: 24551199 PMCID: PMC3925177 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0088962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2013] [Accepted: 01/16/2014] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Perinatal hypoxic ischemia (H-I) causes brain damage and long-term neurological impairments, leading to motor dysfunctions and cerebral palsy. Many studies have demonstrated that the TrkB-ERK1/2 signaling pathway plays a key role in mediating the protective effect of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) following perinatal H-I brain injury in experimental animals. In the present study, we explored the neuroprotective effects of the TrkB-specific agonist monoclonal antibody 29D7 on H-I brain injury in neonatal rats. First, we found that intracerebroventricular (icv) administration of 29D7 in normal P7 rats markedly increased the levels of phosphorylated ERK1/2 and phosphorylated AKT in neurons up to 24 h. Second, P7 rats received icv administration of 29D7 and subjected to H-I injury induced by unilateral carotid artery ligation and exposure to hypoxia (8% oxygen). We found that 29D7, to a similar extent to BDNF, significantly inhibited activation of caspase-3, a biochemical hallmark of apoptosis, following H-I injury. Third, we found that this 29D7-mediated neuroprotective action persisted at least up to 5 weeks post-H-I injury as assessed by brain tissue loss, implicating long-term neurotrophic effects rather than an acute delay of cell death. Moreover, the long-term neuroprotective effect of 29D7 was tightly correlated with sensorimotor functional recovery as assessed by a tape-removal test, while 29D7 did not significantly improve rotarod performance. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that pretreatment with the TrkB-selective agonist 29D7 significantly increases neuronal survival and behavioral recovery following neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gab Seok Kim
- Department of Pharmacology, Seoul National University, College of Pharmacy, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Seongeun Cho
- Wyeth Neuroscience Discovery Research, Princeton, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - James W. Nelson
- Department of Neurological Surgery Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
- Hope Center for Neurological Disorders Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Gregory J. Zipfel
- Department of Neurological Surgery Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
- Hope Center for Neurological Disorders Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Byung Hee Han
- Department of Pharmacology, Seoul National University, College of Pharmacy, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Neurological Surgery Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
- Hope Center for Neurological Disorders Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
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21
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Moyanova SG, Mitreva RG, Kortenska LV, Nicoletti F, Ngomba RT. Age-dependence of sensorimotor and cerebral electroencephalographic asymmetry in rats subjected to unilateral cerebrovascular stroke. EXPERIMENTAL & TRANSLATIONAL STROKE MEDICINE 2013; 5:13. [PMID: 24245542 PMCID: PMC4176494 DOI: 10.1186/2040-7378-5-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2013] [Accepted: 11/06/2013] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The human population mostly affected by stroke is more than 65 years old. This study was designed to meet the recommendation that models of cerebral ischemia in aged animals are more relevant to the clinical setting than young animal models. Until now the majority of the pre-clinical studies examining age effects on stroke outcomes have used rats of old age. Considering the increasing incidence of stroke among younger than old human population, new translational approaches in animal models are needed to match the rejuvenation of stroke. A better knowledge of alterations in stroke outcomes in middle-aged rats has important preventive and management implications providing clues for future investigations on effects of various neuroprotective and neurorestorative drugs against cerebrovascular accidents that may occur before late senescence. METHODS We evaluated the impact of transient focal ischemia, induced by intracerebral unilateral infusion of endothelin-1 (Et-1) near the middle cerebral artery of conscious rats, on volume of brain damage and asymmetry in behavioral and electroencephalographic (EEG) output measures in middle-aged (11-12 month-old) rats. RESULTS We did not find any age-dependent difference in the volume of ischemic brain damage three days after Et-1 infusion. However, age was an important determinant of neurological and EEG outcomes after stroke. Middle-aged ischemic rats had more impaired somatosensory functions of the contralateral part of the body than young ischemic rats and thus, had greater left-right reflex/sensorimotor asymmetry. Interhemispheric EEG asymmetry was more evident in middle-aged than in young ischemic rats, and this could tentatively explain the behavioral asymmetry. CONCLUSIONS With a multiparametric approach, we have validated the endothelin model of ischemia in middle-aged rats. The results provide clues for future studies on mechanisms underlying plasticity after brain damage and motivate investigations of novel neuroprotective strategies against cerebrovascular accidents that may occur before late senescence.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Richard T Ngomba
- I,R,C,C,S,, NEUROMED, Localita Camerelle, 86077, Pozzilli, (IS), Italy.
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22
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Sohrabji F, Bake S, Lewis DK. Age-related changes in brain support cells: Implications for stroke severity. Neurochem Int 2013; 63:291-301. [PMID: 23811611 PMCID: PMC3955169 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2013.06.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2013] [Revised: 05/31/2013] [Accepted: 06/19/2013] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Stroke is one of the leading causes of adult disability and the fourth leading cause of mortality in the US. Stroke disproportionately occurs among the elderly, where the disease is more likely to be fatal or lead to long-term supportive care. Animal models, where the ischemic insult can be controlled more precisely, also confirm that aged animals sustain more severe strokes as compared to young animals. Furthermore, the neuroprotection usually seen in younger females when compared to young males is not observed in older females. The preclinical literature thus provides a valuable resource for understanding why the aging brain is more susceptible to severe infarction. In this review, we discuss the hypothesis that stroke severity in the aging brain may be associated with reduced functional capacity of critical support cells. Specifically, we focus on astrocytes, that are critical for detoxification of the brain microenvironment and endothelial cells, which play a crucial role in maintaining the blood brain barrier. In view of the sex difference in stroke severity, this review also discusses studies of middle-aged acyclic females as well as the effects of the estrogen on astrocytes and endothelial cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farida Sohrabji
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Women's Health in Neuroscience Program, Texas A&M HSC College of Medicine, Bryan, TX 77807, United States.
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23
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Chollet F. Pharmacologic approaches to cerebral aging and neuroplasticity: insights from the stroke model. DIALOGUES IN CLINICAL NEUROSCIENCE 2013. [PMID: 23576890 PMCID: PMC3622470 DOI: 10.31887/dcns.2013.15.1/fchollet] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Brain plasticity is an intrinsic characteristic of the nervous system that allows continuous remodeling of brain functions in pathophysiological conditions. Although normal aging is associated with morphological modifications and decline of cerebral functions, brain plasticity is at least partially preserved in elderly individuals. A growing body of evidence supports the notion that cognitive enrichment and aerobic training induce a dynamic reorganization of higher cerebral functions, thereby helping to maintain operational skills in the elderly and reducing the incidence of dementia. The stroke model clearly shows that spontaneous brain plasticity exists after a lesion, even in old patients, and that it can be modulated through external factors like rehabilitation and drugs. Whether drugs can be used with the aim of modulating the effects of physical training or cognitive stimulation in healthy aged people has not been addressed until now. The risk:benefit ratio will be the key question with regard to the ethical aspect of this challenge. We review in this article the main aspects of human brain plasticity as shown in patients with stroke, the drug modulation of brain plasticity and its consequences on recovery, and finally we address the question of the influence of aging on brain plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- François Chollet
- Department of Neurology and Institute for Neurosciences, CHU and Toulouse University, Hôpital Purpan, Toulouse, France.
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Lay CC, Davis MF, Chen-Bee CH, Frostig RD. Mild sensory stimulation protects the aged rodent from cortical ischemic stroke after permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion. J Am Heart Assoc 2012; 1:e001255. [PMID: 23130160 PMCID: PMC3487352 DOI: 10.1161/jaha.112.001255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2012] [Accepted: 06/15/2012] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Accumulated research has shown that the older adult brain is significantly more vulnerable to stroke than the young adult brain. Although recent evidence in young adult rats demonstrates that single-whisker stimulation can result in complete protection from ischemic damage after permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (pMCAO), it remains unclear whether the same treatment would be effective in older animals. METHODS AND RESULTS Aged rats (21 to 24 months of age) underwent pMCAO and subsequently were divided into "treated" and "untreated" groups. Treated aged rats received intermittent single-whisker stimulation during a 120-minute period immediately after pMCAO, whereas untreated aged rats did not. These animals were assessed using a battery of behavioral tests 1 week before and 1 week after pMCAO, after which their brains were stained for infarct. An additional treated aged group and a treated young adult group also were imaged with functional imaging. Results demonstrated that the recovery of treated aged animals was indistinguishable from that of the treated young adult animals. Treated aged rats had fully intact sensorimotor behavior and no infarct, whereas untreated aged rats were impaired and sustained cortical infarct. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, our results confirm that single-whisker stimulation is protective in an aged rodent pMCAO model, despite age-associated stroke vulnerability. These findings further suggest potential for translation to the more clinically relevant older adult human population. (J Am Heart Assoc. 2012;1:e001255 doi: 10.1161/JAHA.112.001255.).
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher C Lay
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Irvine, CA (C.C.L., M.F.D., C.H.C.-B., R.D.F.) ; The Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, Irvine, CA (C.C.L., M.F.D., C.H.C.-B., R.D.F.) ; The Center for Hearing Research, University of California, Irvine, CA (C.C.L, R.D.F.)
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Ankolekar S, Rewell S, Howells DW, Bath PMW. The Influence of Stroke Risk Factors and Comorbidities on Assessment of Stroke Therapies in Humans and Animals. Int J Stroke 2012; 7:386-97. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1747-4949.2012.00802.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The main driving force behind the assessment of novel pharmacological agents in animal models of stroke is to deliver new drugs to treat the human disease rather than to increase knowledge of stroke pathophysiology. There are numerous animal models of the ischaemic process and it appears that the same processes operate in humans. Yet, despite these similarities, the drugs that appear effective in animal models have not worked in clinical trials. To date, tissue plasminogen activator is the only drug that has been successfully used at the bedside in hyperacute stroke management. Several reasons have been put forth to explain this, but the failure to consider comorbidities and risk factors common in older people is an important one. In this article, we review the impact of the risk factors most studied in animal models of acute stroke and highlight the parallels with human stroke, and, where possible, their influence on evaluation of therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sarah Rewell
- Florey Neuroscience Institutes, Melbourne Brain Centre, Heidelberg, Australia
| | - David W. Howells
- Florey Neuroscience Institutes, Melbourne Brain Centre, Heidelberg, Australia
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26
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Popa-Wagner A, Buga AM, Kokaia Z. Perturbed cellular response to brain injury during aging. Ageing Res Rev 2011; 10:71-9. [PMID: 19900590 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2009.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2009] [Accepted: 10/28/2009] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Old age is associated with an enhanced susceptibility to stroke and poor recovery from brain injury, but the cellular processes underlying these phenomena are only partly understood. Therefore, studying the basic mechanisms underlying structural and functional recovery after brain injury in aged subjects is of considerable clinical interest. Behavioral and cytological analyses of rodents that have undergone experimental injury show that: (a) behaviorally, aged rodents are more severely impaired by ischemia than are young animals, and older rodents also show diminished functional recovery; (b) compared to young animals, aged animals develop a larger infarct area, as well as a necrotic zone characterized by a higher rate of cellular degeneration and a larger number of apoptotic cells; (c) both astrocytes and macrophages are activated strongly and early following stroke in aged rodents; (d) in older animals, the premature, intense cytoproliferative activity following brain injury leads to the precipitous formation of growth-inhibiting scar tissue, a phenomenon amplified by the persistent expression of neurotoxic factors; (e) though the timing is altered, the regenerative capability of the brain is largely preserved in rats, at least into early old age. Whether endogenous neurogenesis contributes to spontaneous recovery after stroke has not yet been established. If neurogenesis from endogenous neuronal stem cells is to be used therapeutically, an individual approach will be required to assess the possible extent of neurogenic response as well as the possibilities to alter this response for functional improvement or prevention of further loss of brain function.
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Yoshikawa A, Atobe Y, Takeda A, Kamiya Y, Takiguchi M, Funakoshi K. A Retrograde Tracing Study of Compensatory Corticospinal Projections in Rats with Neonatal Hemidecortication. Dev Neurosci 2011; 33:539-47. [DOI: 10.1159/000335526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2011] [Accepted: 11/29/2011] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
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Gilmer LK, Ansari MA, Roberts KN, Scheff SW. Age-related mitochondrial changes after traumatic brain injury. J Neurotrauma 2010; 27:939-50. [PMID: 20175672 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2009.1181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Mitochondrial dysfunction is known to occur following traumatic brain injury (TBI) and has been well characterized. This study assessed possible age-related changes in the cortical mitochondrial bioenergetics following TBI. Three hours following a moderate TBI, tissue from the ipsilateral hemisphere (site of impact and penumbra) and the corresponding contralateral region were harvested from young (3- to 5-month-old) and aged (22- to 24-month-old) Fischer 344 rats. Synaptic and extrasynaptic mitochondria were isolated using a Ficoll gradient, and several bioenergetic parameters were examined using a Clark-type electrode. Injury-related respiration deficits were observed in both young and aged rats. Synaptic mitochondria showed an age-related decline in the rate of ATP production, and a decline in respiratory control ratios (RCR), which were not apparent in the extrasynaptic fraction. Following respiration analysis, mitochondrial samples were probed for oxidative damage (3-nitrotyrosine [3-NT], 4-hydroxynonenal [4-HNE], and protein carbonyls [PC]). All markers of oxidative damage were elevated with injury and age in the synaptic fraction, but only with injury in the extrasynaptic fraction. Synaptic mitochondria displayed the highest levels of oxidative damage and may contribute to the synaptic bioenergetic deficits seen following injury. Data indicate that cortical synaptic mitochondria appear to have an increased susceptibility to perturbation with age, suggesting that the increased mitochondrial dysfunction observed following injury may impede recovery in aged animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lesley K Gilmer
- Sanders Brown Center on Aging, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536-0230, USA
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Merrett DL, Kirkland SW, Metz GA. Synergistic effects of age and stress in a rodent model of stroke. Behav Brain Res 2010; 214:55-9. [PMID: 20434490 PMCID: PMC5222622 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2010.04.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2010] [Revised: 04/20/2010] [Accepted: 04/21/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Ageing and stress represent critical influences on stroke risk and outcome. These variables are intricately linked, as ageing is frequently associated with gradual dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. This study determined the effects of stress on motor function in aged rats, and explored possible interactions of age and stress on motor recovery following stroke in a rat model. Young adult (4 months) and aged (18 months) male Wistar rats were tested in skilled and non-skilled movement before and after focal ischemia in motor cortex. One group of each age received restraint stress starting seven days pre-lesion until three weeks post-lesion. Aged rats were less mobile and stress further diminished their overall exploratory activity. Aged rats were also less proficient in motor skill acquisition and slower to improve after lesion. Stress diminished post-lesion improvement and prevented recovery of endpoint measures. The larger functional loss in aged rats vs. young rats was accompanied by greater damage of cortical tissue and persistent elevations in corticosterone levels. The behavioural and physiological measures suggest limited ability of aged animals to adapt to chronic stress. These findings show that age or stress alone can modulate motor performance but may have greater influence by synergistically affecting stroke recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dawn L. Merrett
- Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, 4401 University Drive West, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada T1K 3M4
| | - Scott W. Kirkland
- Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, 4401 University Drive West, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada T1K 3M4
| | - Gerlinde A. Metz
- Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, 4401 University Drive West, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada T1K 3M4
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Kawanishi K, Koshino H, Toyoshita Y, Tanaka M, Hirai T. Effect of Mastication on Functional Recoveries after Permanent Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion in Rats. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis 2010; 19:398-403. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2009.07.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2009] [Revised: 06/10/2009] [Accepted: 07/14/2009] [Indexed: 10/19/2022] Open
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Umeda T, Takahashi M, Isa K, Isa T. Formation of descending pathways mediating cortical command to forelimb motoneurons in neonatally hemidecorticated rats. J Neurophysiol 2010; 104:1707-16. [PMID: 20660415 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00968.2009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Neonatally hemidecorticated rats show fairly normal reaching and grasping behaviors of the forelimb contralateral to the lesion at the adult stage. Previous experiments using an anterograde tracer showed that the corticospinal fibers originating from the sensorimotor cortex of the intact side projected aberrant collaterals to the spinal gray matter on the ipsilateral side. The present study used electrophysiological methods to investigate whether the aberrant projections of the corticospinal tract mediated the pyramidal excitation to the ipsilateral forelimb motoneurons and, if so, which pathways mediate the effect in the hemidecorticated rats. Electrical stimulation to the intact medullary pyramid elicited bilateral negative field potentials in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. In intracellular recordings of forelimb motoneurons, oligosynaptic pyramidal excitation was detected on both sides of the spinal cord in the hemidecorticated rats, whereas pyramidal excitation of motoneurons on the side ipsilateral to the stimulation was much smaller in normal rats. By lesioning the dorsal funiculus at the upper cervical level, we clarified that the excitation was transmitted to the ipsilateral motoneurons by at least two pathways: one via the corticospinal tract and spinal interneurons and the other via the cortico-reticulo-spinal pathways. These results suggested that in the neonatally hemidecorticated rats, the forelimb movements on the side contralateral to the lesion were modulated by motor commands through the indirect ipsilateral descending pathways from the sensorimotor cortex of the intact side either via the spinal interneurons or reticulospinal neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatsuya Umeda
- National Institute for Physiological Sciences, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Department of Developmental Physiology, Myodaiji, Okazaki 444-8585, Japan.
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Gibson CL, Bath PMW, Murphy SP. G-CSF administration is neuroprotective following transient cerebral ischemia even in the absence of a functional NOS-2 gene. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab 2010; 30:739-43. [PMID: 20145659 PMCID: PMC2949157 DOI: 10.1038/jcbfm.2010.12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) is a candidate neuroprotective factor following cerebral ischemia. To determine whether G-CSF acts partly through the inhibition of nitric oxide synthase (NOS)-2 expression, we administered G-CSF to male NOS-2-/- mice after cerebral ischemia. Although male NOS-2-/- mice exhibit resistance to the gross effects of cerebral ischemia, they display neuronal loss and skilled motor deficits following cerebral ischemia. Administration of G-CSF during reperfusion reduced motor deficit and neuronal loss. Thus, G-CSF is still effective in NOS-2 gene-deficient mice, suggesting that part of the mechanism of action is independent of NOS-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire L Gibson
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.
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Cyclooxygenase-2 inhibition provides lasting protection against neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain injury. Crit Care Med 2010; 38:572-8. [PMID: 20029340 DOI: 10.1097/ccm.0b013e3181cb1158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate whether inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2, a critical component of the inflammatory pathway, is neuroprotective in a neonatal rat model of cerebral hypoxia-ischemia. The development of brain inflammation largely contributes to neonatal brain injury that may lead to a lifetime of neurologic deficits. DESIGN Laboratory investigation. SETTING University research laboratory. SUBJECTS Postnatal day ten Sprague-Dawley rats. INTERVENTIONS Neonatal hypoxia-ischemia was induced by ligation of the right common carotid artery followed by 2 hrs of hypoxia (8% oxygen). The pups in treatment groups were administered 10 mg/kg (low dose) or 30 mg/kg (high dose) of a known selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor (NS398). Animals were euthanized at three time points: 72 hrs, 2 wks, or 6 wks. Inflammation outcomes were assessed at 72 hrs; brain damage was assessed at 2 wks and 6 wks along with other organs (heart, spleen). Detailed neurobehavioral examination was performed at 6 wks. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Pharmacologic inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 markedly increased survivability within the first 72 hrs compared with untreated rats (100% vs. 72%). Low- and high-dose NS398 significantly attenuated the loss of brain and body weights observed after hypoxia-ischemia. Neurobehavioral outcomes were significantly improved in some parameters with low-dose treatment, whereas high-dose treatment consistently improved all neurologic deficits. Immunohistochemical results showed a marked decrease in macrophage, microglial, and neutrophil abundance in ipsilateral hemisphere of the NS398-treated group along with a reduction in interleukin-6 expression. CONCLUSIONS Selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibition protected neonatal rats against death, progression of brain injury, growth retardation, and neurobehavioral deficits after a hypoxic-ischemic insult.
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Soleman S, Yip P, Leasure JL, Moon L. Sustained sensorimotor impairments after endothelin-1 induced focal cerebral ischemia (stroke) in aged rats. Exp Neurol 2009; 222:13-24. [PMID: 19913535 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2009.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2009] [Revised: 11/06/2009] [Accepted: 11/06/2009] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Despite recent advances, stroke remains a leading cause of neurological disability with the vast majority of victims being the elderly, who exhibit more severe neurological deficits and a reduced capacity to recover from these disabilities in comparison to young stroke survivors. The objective of the present study was to develop a model of focal ischemic stroke in aged rats using endothelin-1 (ET-1) to produce low mortality rates as well as reliable, robust sensorimotor deficits that resemble functional impairments associated with stroke in humans. Here, we studied the functional and histological outcome following unilateral ET-1 infusions into the sensorimotor cortex of aged rats (20-23 months old). This procedure resulted in low mortality rates (13.3%) and no loss in body weight one week following surgery. Functional assessment was performed using a number of reliable behavioural tests: staircase test (fine motor function), horizontal ladder (skilled locomotion), bilateral tactile stimulation test (somatosensory function) and cylinder test (postural weight support). Following ET-1 induced stroke, all tests demonstrated large and sustained sensorimotor deficits in both forelimb and hindlimb function that failed to improve over the 28-day testing period. In addition, histological assessment revealed a substantial loss of retrogradely labelled corticospinal neurons in the ipsilesional hemisphere following stroke. Our results establish a model for the use of aged rats in future preclinical studies, which will enhance assessment of the long-term benefit of potential neural repair and regenerative strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Soleman
- Neurorestoration Group, Wolfson Centre for Age-Related Diseases, King's College London, Guy's Campus, 16-18 Newcomen Street, London, SE1 1UL, UK
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Takahashi M, Vattanajun A, Umeda T, Isa K, Isa T. Large-scale reorganization of corticofugal fibers after neonatal hemidecortication for functional restoration of forelimb movements. Eur J Neurosci 2009; 30:1878-87. [PMID: 19895560 DOI: 10.1111/j.1460-9568.2009.06989.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
As an experimental model to study the mechanism of large-scale network plasticity of the juvenile brain, functional compensation after neonatal brain damage was studied in rats that received unilateral decortication at postnatal day 5. These animals exhibited a marked ability in reaching and grasping movements in the contralesional side of the forelimb when tested at 10-14 weeks of age. Additional lesion of the sensorimotor cortex in the remaining contralesional hemisphere at this stage resulted in severe impairment of both forelimbs. It was suggested that the sensorimotor cortex on the contralesional side was controlling the movements of both forelimbs. Following the injection of an anterograde tracer into the remaining sensorimotor cortex, the corticofugal axons from the remaining sensorimotor cortex were found to issue aberrant projections to the contralateral red nucleus, contralateral superior colliculus, contralateral pontine nuclei, ipsilateral dorsal column nucleus and ipsilateral gray matter of the cervical spinal cord, all of which appeared to be necessary for the control of contralesional forelimb movements. These results suggest that the forelimb movements on the contralesional side were compensated by large-scale reorganization of the corticofugal axons from the remaining sensorimotor cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masahito Takahashi
- Department of Developmental Physiology, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Myodaiji, Okazaki, Japan
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Ogunshola OO, Antoniou X. Contribution of hypoxia to Alzheimer's disease: is HIF-1alpha a mediator of neurodegeneration? Cell Mol Life Sci 2009; 66:3555-63. [PMID: 19763399 PMCID: PMC11115623 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-009-0141-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2009] [Accepted: 08/20/2009] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The mammalian brain is extremely sensitive to alterations in cellular homeostasis as a result of environmental or physiological insults. In particular, hypoxic/ischemic challenges (i.e. reduced oxygen and/or glucose delivery) cause severe and detrimental alterations in brain function and can trigger neuronal cell death within minutes. Unfortunately, as we age, oxygen delivery to cells and tissues is impaired, thereby increasing the susceptibility of neurons to damage. Thus, hypoxic (neuronal) adaptation is significantly compromised during aging. Many neurological diseases, such as stroke, Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease and diabetes, are characterized by hypoxia, a state that is believed to only exacerbate disease progression. However, the contribution of hypoxia and hypoxia-mediated pathways to neurodegeneration remains unclear. This review discusses current evidence on the contribution of oxygen deprivation to AD, with an emphasis on hypoxia inducible transcription factor-1 (HIF-1)-mediated pathways and the association of AD with the cytoskeleton regulator cyclin-dependent kinase 5.
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Affiliation(s)
- O O Ogunshola
- Institute of Veterinary Physiology and Zurich Centre for Integrative Human Physiology (ZIHP), University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
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37
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de Paula S, Vitola AS, Greggio S, de Paula D, Mello PB, Lubianca JM, Xavier LL, Fiori HH, Dacosta JC. Hemispheric brain injury and behavioral deficits induced by severe neonatal hypoxia-ischemia in rats are not attenuated by intravenous administration of human umbilical cord blood cells. Pediatr Res 2009; 65:631-5. [PMID: 19430381 DOI: 10.1203/pdr.0b013e31819ed5c8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Neonatal hypoxia-ischemia (HI) is an important cause of mortality and morbidity in infants. Human umbilical cord blood (HUCB) is a potential source of cellular therapy in perinatology. We investigated the effects of HUCB cells on spatial memory, motor performance, and brain morphologic changes in neonate rats submitted to HI. Seven-day-old rats underwent right carotid artery occlusion followed by exposure to 8% O(2) inhalation for 2 h. Twenty-four hours after HI, rats received either saline solution or HUCB cells i.v. After 3 wk, rats were assessed using a Morris Water Maze and four motor tests. Subsequently, rats were killed for histologic, immunohistochemical, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analyses. HI rats showed significant spatial memory deficits and a volumetric decrease in the hemisphere ipsilateral to arterial occlusion. These deficits and decreases were not significantly attenuated by the injection of HUCB cells. Moreover, immunofluorescence and PCR analysis revealed few HUCB cells located in rat brain. Intravenous administration of HUCB cells requires optimization to achieve improved therapeutic outcomes in neonatal hypoxic-ischemic injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone de Paula
- Laboratório de Neurociências, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
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Penn PR, Rose FD, Johnson DA. Virtual enriched environments in paediatric neuropsychological rehabilitation following traumatic brain injury: Feasibility, benefits and challenges. Dev Neurorehabil 2009; 12:32-43. [PMID: 19283532 DOI: 10.1080/17518420902739365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
A frequent consequence of traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a significant reduction in patients' cerebral activation/arousal, which clinicians agree is not conducive to optimal rehabilitation outcomes. In the context of paediatric rehabilitation, sustained periods of inactivity are particularly undesirable, as contemporary research has increasingly called into question the Kennard principle that youth inherently promotes greater neural plasticity and functional recovery following TBI. Therefore, the onus to create rehabilitation conditions most conducive to harnessing plasticity falls squarely on the shoulders of clinicians. Having noted the efficacy of environmental enrichment in promoting neural plasticity and positive functional outcomes in the animal literature, some researchers have suggested that the emerging technology of Virtual Reality (VR) could provide the means to increase patients' cerebral activation levels via the use of enriched Virtual Environments (VEs). However, 10 years on, this intuitively appealing concept has received almost no attention from researchers and clinicians alike. This paper overviews recent research on the benefits of enriched environments in the injured brain and identifies the potential and challenges associated with implementing VR-based enrichment in paediatric neuropsychological rehabilitation.
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Affiliation(s)
- P R Penn
- School of Psychology, University of East London, Stratford, London, UK.
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Till C, Colella B, Verwegen J, Green RE. Postrecovery Cognitive Decline in Adults With Traumatic Brain Injury. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2008; 89:S25-34. [DOI: 10.1016/j.apmr.2008.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2008] [Revised: 06/23/2008] [Accepted: 07/28/2008] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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40
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Glendenning ML, Lovekamp-Swan T, Schreihofer DA. Protective effect of estrogen in endothelin-induced middle cerebral artery occlusion in female rats. Neurosci Lett 2008; 445:188-92. [PMID: 18790008 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2008.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2008] [Revised: 09/02/2008] [Accepted: 09/03/2008] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Estrogen is a powerful endogenous and exogenous neuroprotective agent in animal models of brain injury, including focal cerebral ischemia. Although this protection has been demonstrated in several different treatment and injury paradigms, it has not been demonstrated in focal cerebral ischemia induced by intraparenchymal endothelin-1 injection, a model with many advantages over other models of experimental focal ischemia. Reproductively mature female Sprague-Dawley rats were ovariectomized and divided into placebo and estradiol-treated groups. Two weeks later, halothane-anesthetized rats underwent middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion by interparenchymal stereotactic injection of the potent vasoconstrictor endothelin 1 (180pmoles/2microl) near the middle cerebral artery. Laser-Doppler flowmetry (LDF) revealed similar reductions in cerebral blood flow in both groups. Animals were behaviorally evaluated before, and 2 days after, stroke induction, and infarct size was evaluated. In agreement with other models, estrogen treatment significantly reduced infarct size evaluated by both TTC and Fluoro-Jade staining and behavioral deficits associated with stroke. Stroke size was significantly correlated with LDF in both groups, suggesting that cranial perfusion measures can enhance success in this model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele L Glendenning
- Department of Physiology, CA3145, Medical College of Georgia, 1120 15th Street, Augusta, GA 30912-3000, United States
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41
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Siegenthaler MM, Ammon DL, Keirstead HS. Myelin pathogenesis and functional deficits following SCI are age-associated. Exp Neurol 2008; 213:363-71. [PMID: 18644369 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2008.06.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2008] [Revised: 06/17/2008] [Accepted: 06/18/2008] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Most spinal cord injuries (SCI) occur in young adults. In the past few decades however, the average age at time of SCI and the percentage of injuries in persons over the age of 60 have increased. Studies have shown that there is an age-associated delay in the rate of remyelination following toxin-induced demyelination of the spinal cord, suggesting that there may be an age-associated difference in regenerative efficiency. Here we examine for the first time locomotor recovery, bladder recovery, and myelin pathology in young (3 months), aged (12 months), and geriatric (24 months) female rats following contusion SCI. Our assessments indicate that aged and geriatric rats have a delayed rate of locomotor recovery following contusion SCI as compared to young rats. Additionally, aged and geriatric rats have significantly slower bladder recovery as compared to young rats. Examination of myelin pathology reveals that aged and geriatric rats have significantly greater area of pathology and amount of demyelination, as well as significantly less remyelination as compared to young rats following contusion SCI. These data are the first to indicate that there is an age-associated decline in the rate and extent of both locomotor and bladder recovery following contusion SCI, and that age adversely affects the degree of general pathology, demyelination, and remyelination that accompanies contusion SCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica M Siegenthaler
- Reeve-Irvine Research Center, Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of California at Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697-4292, USA
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42
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McDonald RJ, Craig LA, Hong NS. Enhanced cell death in hippocampus and emergence of cognitive impairments following a localized mini-stroke in hippocampus if preceded by a previous episode of acute stress. Eur J Neurosci 2008; 27:2197-209. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1460-9568.2008.06151.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Wagner AK, Postal BA, Darrah SD, Chen X, Khan AS. Deficits in novelty exploration after controlled cortical impact. J Neurotrauma 2007; 24:1308-20. [PMID: 17711392 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2007.0274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Experimental models of traumatic brain injury (TBI) have been utilized to characterize the behavioral derangements associated with brain trauma. Several studies exist characterizing motor function in the controlled cortical impact (CCI) injury model of TBI, but less research has focused on how CCI affects exploratory behavior. The goal of this study was to characterize deficits in three novelty exploration tasks after the CCI. Under anesthesia, 37 adult male Sprague Dawley rats received CCI (2.7 mm and 2.9 mm; 4 m/sec) over the right parietal cortex or sham surgery. For days 1-6 post-surgery, the beam balance and beam walking tasks were used to assess motor deficits. The Open Field, Y-Maze, and Free Choice Novelty (FCN) tasks were used to measure exploratory deficits from days 7-14 post-surgery. Injured rats displayed a significant, but transient, deficit on each motor task (p < 0.0001). Open Field results showed that injured rats had lower activity levels than shams (p < 0.0001), displayed less habituation to the task, and had more anxiety related behaviors (thigmotaxis) across days (p < 0.0001). Y-maze results suggest that injured rats spent less time in the novel arm versus the familiar arms when compared to shams (p < 0.0001). For FCN, injured rats were less active (p < 0.05) and spent less time and had fewer interactions with objects in the novel environment compared to shams (p < 0.05). These results suggest that several ethological factors contribute to exploratory deficits after CCI and can be effectively characterized with the behavioral tasks described. Future work will utilize these tasks to evaluate the neural substrates underlying exploratory deficits after TBI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy K Wagner
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
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Saucier DM, Yager JY, Armstrong EA, Keller A, Shultz S. Enriched environment and the effect of age on ischemic brain damage. Brain Res 2007; 1170:31-8. [PMID: 17714698 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2007.07.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2006] [Revised: 07/09/2007] [Accepted: 07/12/2007] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Stroke affects all age groups from the newborn to the elderly. Previous work from our laboratory has shown that despite a greater susceptibility to brain damage, the immature brain recovers more rapidly and to a greater extent than does the more mature nervous system. In the current study, we examined the influence of environmental enrichment on the effects of age on the brain damaging effects of stroke. Rats aged 10, 63, and 180 days received ischemic insults following stereotactic intra-cerebral injection of endothelin-1, and resulting in injury to the right middle cerebral artery territory. Rats were then housed in either environmentally enriched cages, or standard cages for 60 days, after which they were sacrificed, and brain volumes determined for the extent of neurologic injury. Rats receiving the insult at 10 days of age showed a reduction of pathologic injury when housed in the enriched cages compared to standard. Conversely, rats receiving the insult at 180 days and housed environmentally enriched cages actually showed an increased volume of brain damage compared to controls. Our findings clearly indicate the dramatic influence of age on the extent of stroke and the influence of rehabilitative therapies. Behavioral correlation to morphologic alterations is required. Attempts at therapeutic interventions clearly need to be age-specific.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deborah M Saucier
- Department of Neuroscience, 4401 University Dr., University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada.
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45
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Abstract
Stroke remains the leading cause of adult disability, with upper extremity motor impairments being the most prominent functional deficit in surviving stroke victims. The development of animal models of upper extremity dysfunction after stroke has enabled investigators to examine the neural mechanisms underlying rehabilitation-dependent motor recovery as well as the efficacy of various adjuvant therapies for enhancing recovery. Much of this research has focused on rat models of forelimb motor function after experimentally induced ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke. This article provides a review of several different methods for inducing stroke, including devascularization, photothrombosis, chemical vasoconstriction, and hemorrhagia. We also describe a battery of sensorimotor tasks for assessing forelimb motor function after stroke. The tasks range from measures of gross motor performance to fine object manipulation and kinematic movement analysis, and we offer a comparison of the sensitivity for revealing motor deficits and the amount of time required to administer each motor test. In addition, we discuss several important methodological issues, including the importance of testing on multiple tasks to characterize the nature of the impairments, establishing stable baseline prestroke motor performance measures, dissociating the effects of acute versus chronic testing, and verifying lesion location and size. Finally, we outline general considerations for conducting research using rat models of stroke and the role that these models should play in guiding clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey A Kleim
- Department of Neuroscience, McKnight Brain Institute, 100 South Newell Drive, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.
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