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Experimental approaches to study functional recovery following cerebral ischemia

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Abstract

Valid experimental models and behavioral tests are indispensable for the development of therapies for stroke. The translational failure with neuroprotective drugs has forced us to look for alternative approaches. Restorative therapies aiming to facilitate the recovery process by pharmacotherapy or cell-based therapy have emerged as promising options. Here we describe the most common stroke models used in cell-based therapy studies with particular emphasis on their inherent complications, which may affect behavioral outcome. Loss of body weight, stress, hyperthermia, immunodepression, and infections particularly after severe transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (filament model) are recognized as possible confounders to impair performance in certain behavioral tasks and bias the treatment effects. Inherent limitations of stroke models should be carefully considered when planning experiments to ensure translation of behavioral data to the clinic.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the Health Research Council of the Academy of Finland and the Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation grant.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Clinical Medicine - Neurology, University of Eastern Finland, Yliopistonranta 1C, FI-70210, Kuopio, Finland

    Anu Lipsanen & Jukka Jolkkonen

  2. Brain Research and Rehabilitation Center Neuron, Kortejoki, FI-71130, Kuopio, Finland

    Anu Lipsanen & Jukka Jolkkonen

Authors
  1. Anu Lipsanen
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  2. Jukka Jolkkonen
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Correspondence to Jukka Jolkkonen.

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Lipsanen, A., Jolkkonen, J. Experimental approaches to study functional recovery following cerebral ischemia. Cell. Mol. Life Sci. 68, 3007–3017 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-011-0733-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-011-0733-3

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