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An Enriched Environment Promotes Motor Function through Neuroprotection after Cerebral Ischemia
Liang-Feng Shi1, Chuan-Jie Wang2, Ke-Wei Yu3
1Department of Endocrine Medicine, Jinshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
Biomed Research International
|February 23, 2023
Summary
Enriched environment (EE) significantly improves limb function recovery after ischemic stroke by upregulating synaptic remodeling proteins, growth-associated protein-43 (GAP-43) and synaptophysin (SYN), more than neuroprotection markers.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Stroke Research
- Rehabilitation Science
Background:
- Stroke is a leading cause of long-term disability, severely impacting human health.
- Enriched environment (EE) shows promise in promoting functional recovery post-stroke, but underlying mechanisms are not fully understood.
- Identifying key molecular mechanisms driving EE-mediated recovery is crucial for targeted therapeutic strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the internal mechanisms of enriched environment (EE) in functional recovery after ischemic stroke.
- To determine the relative importance of neuronal protection versus synaptic remodeling in EE-induced limb function recovery.
- To analyze the expression of key proteins involved in neuronal survival and synaptic plasticity.
Main Methods:
- Adult mice underwent permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (pMCAO) and were housed in either EE or standard housing (SH) conditions.
- Motor function was assessed using the modified neurological severity score (mNSS) and Rotarod test at multiple time points post-operation.
- Protein expression of Bcl-2, Bax, GAP-43, and SYN was quantified using western blotting and immunofluorescence staining.
Main Results:
- Mice in the EE group exhibited significantly improved motor function compared to the SH group.
- EE significantly upregulated the expression of synaptic remodeling proteins (GAP-43, SYN) and the neuroprotection ratio (Bcl-2/Bax).
- Correlation analysis indicated that increased GAP-43 and SYN expression were more strongly associated with motor recovery than the Bcl-2/Bax ratio.
Conclusions:
- Enriched environment (EE) effectively promotes limb function recovery following ischemic stroke in mice.
- This behavioral restoration is significantly associated with enhanced synaptic remodeling, indicated by increased GAP-43 and SYN.
- While neuroprotection (Bcl-2/Bax ratio) is also upregulated, synaptic remodeling appears to play a more dominant role in EE-mediated functional recovery.
