Impacts of Perinatal Induced Photothrombotic Stroke on Sensorimotor Performance in Adult Rats

Abstract

Perinatal ischemic stroke is a leading cerebrovascular disorder occurring in infants around the time of birth associated with long term comorbidities including motor, cognitive and behavioral deficits. We sought to determine the impact of perinatal induced stroke on locomotion, behavior and motor function in rats. A photothrombotic model of ischemic stroke was used in rat at postnatal day 7. Presently, we induced two lesions of different extents, to assess the consequences of stroke on motor function, locomotion and possible correlations to morphological changes. Behavioral tests sensitive to sensorimotor changes were used; locomotion expressed as distance moved in the open field was monitored and histological changes were also assessed. Outcomes depicted two kinds of lesions of different shapes and sizes, relative to laser illumination. Motor performance of rats submitted to stroke was poor when compared to controls; a difference in motor performance was also noted between rats with small and large lesions. Correlations were observed between: motor performance and exposition time; volume ratio and exposition time; and in the rotarod between motor performance and volume ratio. Outcomes demonstrate that photothrombotic cerebral ischemic stroke induced in early postnatal period and tested in adulthood, indeed influenced functional performance governed by the affected brain regions.