title: Assessing cognitive function following medial prefrontal stroke in the rat.
abstract: Cognitive impairments are prevalent following clinical stroke; however, preclinical research has focused almost exclusively on motor deficits. In order to conduct systematic evaluations into the nature of post-stroke cognitive dysfunction and recovery, it is crucial to develop focal stroke models that predominantly affect cognition while leaving motor function intact. Herein, we evaluated a range of cognitive functions 1-4 months following focal medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) stroke using a battery of tests. Male Sprague-Dawley rats underwent focal ischemia induced in the mPFC using bilateral intracerebral injections of endothelin-1, or sham surgery. Cognitive function was assessed using an open field, several object recognition tests, attentional set-shifting, light-dark box, spontaneous alternation, Barnes maze, and win-shift/win-stay tests. Prefrontal cortex damage resulted in significant changes in object recognition function, behavioural flexibility, and anxiety-like behaviour, while spontaneous alternation and locomotor function remained intact. These deficits are similar to the cognitive deficits following stroke in humans. Our results suggest that this model may be useful for identifying and developing potential therapies for improving post-stroke cognitive dysfunction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Jessica M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Livingston-Thomas
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Matthew S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Jeffers
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Carine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nguemeni
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Donnelly Centre, 160 College Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada.
authors.forename: Molly S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Shoichet
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Medical Science Building, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada; Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Donnelly Centre, 160 College Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada; Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Donnelly Centre, 160 College Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada.
authors.forename: Cindi M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Morshead
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada; Canadian Partnership for Stroke Recovery, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada; Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL, Canada; Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada. Electronic address: dcorbett@uottawa.ca.
authors.forename: Dale
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Corbett
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003071:Cognition; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D019332:Endothelin-1; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D020521:Stroke / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*
chemical_list: D019332:Endothelin-1
keywords: Animal models; Cognition; Executive function; Medial prefrontal cortex; Rat; Stroke