Affiliations: [a]
Department of Anatomy and Division of Brain Korea 21 Plus Biomedical Science, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| [b]
Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Center for Prevention and Rehabilitation, Heart Vascular and Stroke Institute, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| [c]
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Pusan National University College of Medicine, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Pusan, Korea
| [d]
Department of Health Science and Technology, Department of Medical Device Management & Research, SAIHST, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, Korea
Correspondence:
[*]
Corresponding author: Won Hyuk Chang, MD, PhD, Professor, Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Center for Prevention and Rehabilitation, Heart Vascular and Stroke Institute, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 50 Irwon-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul 135-710, Korea. Tel.: +82 2 3410 6068; Fax: +82 2 3410 0052; E-mail: wh.chang@samsung.com.
Abstract: Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the proper timing of extradural cortical stimulation (ECS) on the motor relearning in a rat model of subacute photothrombotic stroke. Methods: Photothrombotic infarction was induced on the dominant sensorimotor cortex in male Sprague-Dawley rats after training in a single-pellet reaching task (SPRT). Rats were randomly divided into three groups after stroke: ECS during the inactive period (Day-ECS group), ECS during the active period (Night-ECS group) and no ECS (Non-stimulated group). Six sham-operated rats were assigned to the control group. The Day- and Night-ECS group received continuous ECS for 12 hours during the day or night for 2 weeks from day 4 after the stroke. Behavioral assessment with SPRT was performed daily. Results: SPRT showed a significantly faster and greater improvement in the Day and Night-ECS groups than in the Non-stimulated group. In the Day- and Night-ECS groups, the success rate of SPRT differed significantly from Non-stimulated group on day 11 and day 8, respectively. In addition, the Night-ECS group showed a significantly higher SPRT success rate than the Day-ECS group from days 10 to 13. Conclusion: ECS during the active period might be more effective for motor relearning in the subacute stroke rat model.
Keywords: Day/night, extradural cortical stimulation, electrical stimulation, motor learning, motor recovery, stroke
