Effects of exercise training on the functional recovery of extremities and the concentration of microtubule associated protein 2 in rats with focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion

Objective To study if exercise training ca n promote the functional recovery of extremities in rats with focal cerebral is chemia-reperfusion, and explore the relevant mechanism with a molecular perspec tive. Methods Fifty-two rats were recruited in thi s study and randomly divided into 4 groups: an exercise group, a control group, a sham operation group and a healthy control group. The middle cerebral artery o cclusion-reperfusion (MCAO-R) model was established by use of Zea-Longa's met hod in rats. The rats of the exercise group were administered with swimming trai ning daily after the operation. The sensorimotor functional recovery was evaluat ed by behavioral test involving the forelimb movement of the rat and the balance test. Meanwhile, immunoreaction activity of microtubule associated protein 2 ( MAP 2) in the surrounding area of cerebral ischemia tissue in each group were me asured by use of immunohistochemical method. Results After focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion in rats, the scores of behavioral t est and the balance test in the exercise group are higher than those in the cont rol group. Significant difference was revealed between the scores of the behavio ral test in two groups at 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25 days after operation ( P 0.01), as well as those of the balance test in two groups at 7, 9, 11, 1 3, 17, 19 days ( P 0.01). Concentration of MAP 2 in surrounding area of ische mic cerebral tissue in the exercise group was higher than that in the control gr oup, significant difference was revealed at 14, 28 days after operations ( P 0.05). Conclusion Exercise training may improve the functional recovery of extremities in rats with cerebral ischemia-reperfusi on, and the mechanism was related to the upregulative expression of MAP-2 in the surrounding area of the ischemic brain tissue.