Spatial Navigation Test
Objective: Evaluation of spatial navigation to assess cognitive function recovery after experimental permanent stroke in rats
Protocol Steps
Surgical Procedure - Permanent Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion
Male Sprague-Dawley rats (12 months old) underwent permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion or sham operations
Note: Sham operation group served as control
View evidence from paper
“We tested male Sprague-Dawley rats (12 months old) with permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion or sham operations”
Dose-Response Study - Initial Progesterone Administration
Animals received intraperitoneal injections of progesterone at 1 hour post-occlusion
Note: Three dose levels tested: 8, 16, or 32 mg/kg
View evidence from paper
“For the dose-response study, animals received intraperitoneal injections of progesterone (8, 16 or 32 mg/kg) at 1 h post-occlusion”
Dose-Response Study - Subcutaneous Injections
Animals received subcutaneous injections of progesterone at 6 hours post-occlusion and then once every 24 hours for 7 days
Note: Same dose levels as intraperitoneal injection phase
View evidence from paper
“subcutaneous injections at 6 h and then once every 24 h for 7 days”
Time-Window Study - Progesterone Administration
Optimal dose of progesterone was given starting at 3, 6, or 24 hours post-stroke
Note: The 8 mg/kg dose was determined to be optimal based on dose-response results
View evidence from paper
“For the time-window study, the optimal dose of progesterone was given starting at 3, 6 or 24 h post-stroke”
Behavioral Testing - Spatial Navigation Assessment
Spatial navigation test performed to evaluate cognitive function recovery
Note: Part of comprehensive behavioral assessment including locomotor activity, grip strength, sensory neglect, gait impairment, and motor coordination
View evidence from paper
“improved functional outcomes up to 3 weeks after stroke on locomotor activity, grip strength, sensory neglect, gait impairment, motor coordination and spatial navigation tests”
Brain Extraction and Infarct Volume Evaluation
Rats were killed and brains extracted for evaluation of infarct volume
Note: Terminal timepoint for histological analysis
View evidence from paper
“Rats were killed at 22 days post-stroke and brains extracted for evaluation of infarct volume”