Abstract: ObjectiveTo study the rehabilitative effects and pathological changes in rats after acute cerebral infarction. Methods 30 male Wister rats were randomly divided into 3 groups :Group A(sham group),Group B(model group) and Group C(rehabilitation group). Animal model was made by the middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO).For each group, Bederson Neural Function was scored and balancing wood,rotating bar,and net screen were tested at 24 hours,3 days and 7 days after operation respectively. On the 7th day after operation, pathological change of brain tissue was observed. ResultsCompared with Group A, Bederson Neural Function scores of Group B,C indicated significant differences at each time (P<0.01).The abilities of grasping, walking and coordinating of all the groups after 24 hours by operation handicapped, however with time continuing,every function of Group A restored and that of Group B or C improved partly,but showed significant difference compared with Group A(P<0.01).After 3 days by operation,balancing wood test of Group C was better than that of group B(P<0.05),after 7 days,except Bederson Neural Function score,there were difference between Group C and B(P<0.05 or P<0.01).After 7 days by operation,compared with Group A,brain tissue of infarction area in Group B indicated significantly edema, neural cells decreased. Compared with Group B, the edema in Group C decreased and neural cells increased.ConclusionsRehabilitation therapy can improve the MCAO rats' ability of equilibrating, grasping and walking, and decrease edema, increase neural cells in infarction areas.

Key words: cerebral infarction, rehabilitation, middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO), rats