Experiments/Locomotor Activity Testing

Source Paper

Progesterone in experimental permanent stroke: a dose-response and therapeutic time-window study

Bushra Wali, Tauheed Ishrat, Soonmi Won, Donald G. Stein, Iqbal Sayeed

Brain • 2013

DOI PMC

Locomotor Activity Testing

behavioralratSprague-Dawley

Objective: Assessment of locomotor activity as a measure of functional recovery following permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion stroke in rats

Materials & Equipment Checklist

2 items

Gather these items before starting the experiment. Check off items as you prepare.

Materials2

Progesterone

Amazon

Placebo

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Protocol Steps

Surgical procedure - Permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion or sham operation

Male Sprague-Dawley rats (12 months old) underwent either permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion or sham surgical operations

Note: This is the stroke induction procedure

View evidence from paper

“We tested male Sprague-Dawley rats (12 months old) with permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion or sham operations”

First progesterone injection - Intraperitoneal route

Intraperitoneal injection of progesterone at specified dose (8, 16, or 32 mg/kg for dose-response study, or optimal dose for time-window study)

1 hour post-occlusion

Note: Timing varies based on study design: 1 h post-occlusion for dose-response study; 3, 6, or 24 h post-stroke for time-window study

View evidence from paper

“animals received intraperitoneal injections of progesterone (8, 16 or 32 mg/kg) at 1 h post-occlusion, and subcutaneous injections at 6 h”

Second progesterone injection - Subcutaneous route

Subcutaneous injection of progesterone at 6 hours post-occlusion

6 hours post-occlusion

Note: Route changes from intraperitoneal to subcutaneous

View evidence from paper

“subcutaneous injections at 6 h and then once every 24 h for 7 days”

Repeated progesterone injections - Subcutaneous route

Subcutaneous injections of progesterone once every 24 hours for 7 days total

Once every 24 hours for 7 days

Note: Continues after initial 6 h injection

View evidence from paper

“subcutaneous injections at 6 h and then once every 24 h for 7 days”

Behavioral testing - Locomotor activity assessment

Evaluation of locomotor activity as a measure of functional recovery following stroke

Repeated intervals up to 3 weeks post-stroke

Note: Part of comprehensive behavioral assessment including grip strength, sensory neglect, gait impairment, motor coordination, and spatial navigation tests

View evidence from paper

“Behavioural recovery was evaluated at repeated intervals. Rats were killed at 22 days post-stroke and brains extracted for evaluation of infarct volume”

Brain extraction and infarct volume evaluation

Rats were euthanized and brains extracted for measurement of infarct volume

22 days post-stroke

Note: Terminal procedure

View evidence from paper

“Rats were killed at 22 days post-stroke and brains extracted for evaluation of infarct volume”