title: How does the motor relearning program improve neurological function of brain ischemia monkeys?
abstract: The motor relearning program can significantly improve various functional disturbance induced by ischemic cerebrovascular diseases. However, its mechanism of action remains poorly understood. In injured brain tissues, glial fibrillary acidic protein and neurofilament protein changes can reflect the condition of injured neurons and astrocytes, while vascular endothelial growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor changes can indicate angiogenesis. In the present study, we induced ischemic brain injury in the rhesus macaque by electrocoagulation of the M1 segment of the right middle cerebral artery. The motor relearning program was conducted for 60 days from the third day after model establishment. Immunohistochemistry and single-photon emission CT showed that the numbers of glial fibrillary acidic protein-, neurofilament protein-, vascular endothelial growth factor- and basic fibroblast growth factor-positive cells were significantly increased in the infarcted side compared with the contralateral hemisphere following the motor relearning program. Moreover, cerebral blood flow in the infarcted side was significantly improved. The clinical rating scale for stroke was used to assess neurological function changes in the rhesus macaque following the motor relearning program. Results showed that motor function was improved, and problems with consciousness, self-care ability and balance function were significantly ameliorated. These findings indicate that the motor relearning program significantly promoted neuronal regeneration, repair and angiogenesis in the surroundings of the infarcted hemisphere, and improve neurological function in the rhesus macaque following brain ischemia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Fourth Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650021, Yunnan Province, China.
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Fourth Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650021, Yunnan Province, China.
authors.forename: Zhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Fourth Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650021, Yunnan Province, China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Fourth Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650021, Yunnan Province, China.
authors.forename: Lu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gan
authors.affiliation: Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, Yunnan Province, China.
authors.forename: Dongdong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Fourth Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650021, Yunnan Province, China.
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Fourth Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650021, Yunnan Province, China.
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, Yunnan Province, China.
authors.forename: Xintian
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neuroscience, Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650500, Yunnan Province, China.
authors.forename: Tinghua
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neuroscience, Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650500, Yunnan Province, China.
authors.forename: Zhongtang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Feng
keywords: animal model; brain injury; brain ischemia; cerebral blood flow; grants-supported paper; motor relearning program; neural regeneration; neurological function; neuroregeneration; neurotrophic factor; rhesus macaque; single-photon emission CT; stroke