Long-term behavioral characterization of a rat model of intracerebral hemorrhage.

We tested the behavioral effects of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) in adult male rats. ICH was induced by collagenase injection into the basal ganglia and the rats were subjected to a longitudinal behavioral test battery. Both learning and memory deficits were detected shortly after injury. Two months after injury, there were still significant short- and long-term memory deficits. Rotarod testing also revealed long-term sensorimotor coordination deficits. No differences in activity levels were detected at any time. Thus, spontaneous ICH produced detectable cognitive and motor deficits that evolved over the course of 2 months. Along with histological analysis of infarct volume, this characterization provides a suitable baseline for the analysis of therapeutic interventions.