PURPOSE: Stroke disability stems from insufficient neurorepair mechanisms. Improvement of functions has been achieved through rehabilitation or therapeutic agents. Therefore, we combined exercise with a neurovascular protective agent, S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO), to accelerate functional recovery. METHODS: Stroke was induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion for 60 min followed by reperfusion in adult male rats. Animals were treated with vehicle (IR group), GSNO (0.25 mg/kg, GSNO group), rotarod exercise (EX group) and GSNO plus exercise (GSNO+EX group). The groups were studied for 14 days to determine neurorepair mechanisms and functional recovery. RESULTS: Treated groups showed reduced infarction, decreased neuronal cell death, enhanced neurotrophic factors, and improved neurobehavioral functions. However, the GSNO+EX showed greater functional recovery (p < 0.05) than the GSNO or the EX group. A GSNO sub group, treated 24 hours after IR, still showed motor function recovery (p < 0.001). The protective effect of GSNO or exercise was blocked by the inhibition of Akt activity. CONCLUSIONS: GSNO and exercise aid functional recovery by stimulating neurorepair mechanisms. The improvements by GSNO and exercise depend mechanistically on the Akt pathway. A combination of exercise and GSNO shows greater functional recovery. Improved recovery with GSNO, even administered 24 hours post-IR, demonstrates its clinical relevance.
PURPOSE:Stroke disability stems from insufficient neurorepair mechanisms. Improvement of functions has been achieved through rehabilitation or therapeutic agents. Therefore, we combined exercise with a neurovascular protective agent, S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO), to accelerate functional recovery. METHODS:Stroke was induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion for 60 min followed by reperfusion in adult male rats. Animals were treated with vehicle (IR group), GSNO (0.25 mg/kg, GSNO group), rotarod exercise (EX group) and GSNO plus exercise (GSNO+EX group). The groups were studied for 14 days to determine neurorepair mechanisms and functional recovery. RESULTS: Treated groups showed reduced infarction, decreased neuronal cell death, enhanced neurotrophic factors, and improved neurobehavioral functions. However, the GSNO+EX showed greater functional recovery (p < 0.05) than the GSNO or the EX group. A GSNO sub group, treated 24 hours after IR, still showed motor function recovery (p < 0.001). The protective effect of GSNO or exercise was blocked by the inhibition of Akt activity. CONCLUSIONS:GSNO and exercise aid functional recovery by stimulating neurorepair mechanisms. The improvements by GSNO and exercise depend mechanistically on the Akt pathway. A combination of exercise and GSNO shows greater functional recovery. Improved recovery with GSNO, even administered 24 hours post-IR, demonstrates its clinical relevance.
Authors: Anna S Aledia; Lisa M Tran; Bryan O King; Dan L Serna; Jamie Eng; Blanding U Jones; John C Chen; James H Roum Journal: ASAIO J Date: 2002 Sep-Oct Impact factor: 2.872
Authors: Ashley H Snyder; Marianne E McPherson; John F Hunt; Michael Johnson; Jonathan S Stamler; Benjamin Gaston Journal: Am J Respir Crit Care Med Date: 2002-04-01 Impact factor: 21.405
Authors: Theresa L Wellman; Joshua Jenkins; Paul L Penar; Bruce Tranmer; Rima Zahr; Karen M Lounsbury Journal: FASEB J Date: 2003-12-04 Impact factor: 5.191