Transcranial application of low-energy laser irradiation improves neurological deficits in rats following acute stroke.
OBJECTIVE
Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) has been shown to have beneficial effects on ischemic skeletal and heart muscles tissues. The aim of the present study was to approve the effectiveness of LLLT treatment at different locations on the brain in acute stroked rats.


METHODS
Stroke was induced in 169 rats that were divided into four groups: control non-laser and three laser-treated groups where laser was employed ipsilateral, contralateral, and both to the side of the induced stroke. Rats were tested for neurological function.


RESULTS
In all three laser-treated groups, a marked and significant improvement in neurological deficits was evident at 14, 21, and 28 days post stroke relative to the non-treated group.


CONCLUSIONS
These observations suggest that LLLT applied at different locations in the skull and in a rather delayed-phase post stroke effectively improves neurological function after acute stroke in rats.
Detaboada
Luis
L
Photothera, Inc., 2260 Rutherford Road, Carlsbad, California 92008, USA.
Ilic
Sanja
S
Leichliter-Martha
Sandra
S
Oron
Uri
U
Oron
Amir
A
Streeter
Jackson
J
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D028022:Low-Level Light Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D020521:Stroke / Q000532:radiotherapy*