The relationship between non-affected forelimb exercise and recovery after focal cerebral ischemia in acute phase

[Purpose] In the present study, we hypothesized that exercise of the nonaffected forelimb in the early poststroke phase would stimulate the intact hemisphere, thereby influencing the hemisphere of the infarcted side and improving the performance of the hemiplegic limb. [Subjects and Methods] Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats (8-10 weeks of age, weighing 250-300 g, n=12) were used and randomly divided into 3 groups: nonaffected forelimb exercise for 3 days and treadmill exercise 7 days after ischemia (ETF, n=6), resting for 3 days and treadmill exercise 7 days after ischemia (ETN, n=6), and after ischemia 10 days resting group. To validate nerve growth factor (NGF), western blot analysis was performed. The results were analyzed using SPSS for Windows version 18.0. and expressed as mean ± standard deviation (SD). [Results] Early treadmill exercise increased the expression of NGF protein level in both ETE and ETN groups. Comparing between the nonaffected forelimb exercise and infarct hemisphere in NGF protein expression, the ETE group showed higher increase of NGF protein level in right hemisphere than ETN group, but there was no statistical significance. [Conclusion] The early treadmill exercise increased NGF protein expression levels in both hemispheres and the nonaffected forelimb exercise in the early poststroke recovery phase could enhance neuronal recovery after focal ischemia in rat models.