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A Preclinical Model to Assess Brain Recovery After Acute Stroke in Rats
Published on: November 6, 2019
Intensive treadmill training promotes cognitive recovery after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion in juvenile rats
Guoyuan Pan1, Jingyan Cheng2, Weimin Shen3
1The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, No. 109, Xueyuanxi Road, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China; Tongde Hospital of Zhejiang Province, No. 234, Gucui Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Insights
Medium-intensity treadmill training promotes hippocampal synaptic plasticity and neuroprotection in juvenile rats after stroke. This rehabilitation strategy effectively improved cognitive function and reduced brain damage, highlighting optimal exercise parameters for recovery.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Pediatric Neurology
Background:
- Childhood stroke rehabilitation lacks clear understanding of protective mechanisms.
- Cerebral ischemia in young individuals can lead to significant neurobehavioral and cognitive deficits.
- Hippocampal synaptic plasticity is crucial for cognitive function and recovery post-stroke.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of varying treadmill training intensities on hippocampal synaptic plasticity following cerebral ischemia in juvenile rats.
- To determine the optimal intensity of treadmill exercise for neuroprotection and functional recovery after ischemic stroke.
Main Methods:
- A middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model was used in juvenile rats to simulate ischemic stroke.
- Rats were subjected to low, medium, or high-intensity treadmill training for 14 days post-MCAO.
- Neurobehavioral tests, infarct volume measurement, hippocampal neuron density, synaptic protein expression (Synapsin I, PSD95), and synapse morphology were assessed.
Main Results:
- MCAO induced cognitive deficits, reduced hippocampal neuron density, and altered synaptic protein expression and morphology.
- Treadmill training, particularly medium-intensity, significantly improved neurobehavioral scores, reduced infarct volume, and enhanced spatial learning and memory.
- Medium-intensity training optimally increased hippocampal neuron density, Synapsin I and PSD95 expression, and improved synapse microstructure.
Conclusions:
- Treadmill training confers neuroprotection by enhancing hippocampal synaptic plasticity in juvenile rats post-ischemic stroke.
- Medium-intensity treadmill exercise demonstrates the most optimal effects on cognitive recovery and synaptic plasticity.
- Findings suggest tailored exercise intensity is critical for effective rehabilitation after childhood stroke.
Abstract:
Rehabilitation training is routine for children who experience stroke, but its protective mechanism remains unclear. To study the effect of treadmill training intensity on hippocampal synaptic plasticity after cerebral ischemia, a model of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO)/reperfusion was established in young rats to simulate childhood ischemic stroke. The rats were randomly allocated into five groups: sham operation, MCAO, low-intensity exercise and MCAO (5 m/min), medium-intensity exercise and MCAO (10 m/min), and high-intensity exercise and MCAO (15 m/min). Intervention was continued for 14 days, and a series of experimental tests were conducted. After MCAO, the juvenile rats exhibited a series of morphological and functional alterations, including changes in their neurobehavior and cerebral infarct volumes. Compared with control rats, MCAO rats had a longer escape latency and crossed fewer platforms in the water maze test and exhibited decreased hippocampal neuron density and Synapsin I and PSD95 expression. Furthermore, MCAO rats exhibited synapse morphology changes and abnormal serum levels of lactic acid and corticosterone. Treadmill training effectively reduced the neurobehavioral scores and cerebral infarction volumes, with medium-intensity training showing the best effect. Treadmill training shortened the escape latency, increased the number of platform crossings, and improved the spatial cognitive abilities of the rats, with the medium intensity training having the best effect on spatial learning/memory efficiency. Treadmill training increased the neuron density in the hippocampus, with the medium-intensity training resulting in the highest density. Treadmill training had a positive effect on the expression of Synapsin I and PSD95, with the medium-intensity training showing the strongest effect. Treadmill training improved the sub-microstructure synapse morphology, with the medium-intensity training demonstrating the best effect. Treadmill training increased the plasma levels of lactic acid and corticosterone, with the high-intensity training having the most obvious effect. Treadmill training can provide neuroprotection by promoting hippocampal synaptic plasticity, with medium-intensity training showing the most optimal effects.
