Abstract: ObjectiveTo assess how transcranial electrical stimulation (TES) concurrent with rehabilitation training influences brain plasticity and behavioral functional performance in rats following a focal ischemic infarction.MethodsAfter an acute focal ischemic infarction by transient occlusion of right middle cerebral artery (MCAO), the electric stimulation concurrent with rehabilitation group was given TES, balancing and rotating and walking exercise everyday; the rehabilitation group was given only balancing and rotating and walking exercise everyday; the control group received no treatment. Growth associated protein 43(GAP-43) was examined by immunohistochemical techniques, and density of reaction product and forelimb placing test (FPT) were measured on the 3rd, 7th, 14th and 28th day after infarction respectively.ResultsThe electrical stimulation concurrent with rehabilitation group provided marked improvement in FPT on the 7th, 14th and 28th day compared with the rehabilitation group and the control group (P<0.01～0.05). The GAP-43 demonstrated statistically significant increase on the 3rd, 7th, and 14th day in the peri-infarct region in the electrical stimulation concurrent with rehabilitation group compared with other two groups(P<<0.01～0.05).ConclusionThe efficacy of transcranial electrical stimulation combining with rehabilitation training can improve functional outcome and neuronal plasticity following ischemic cerebral damage. The mechanism may be partly due to the upregulation of the expression of GAP-43 in the peri-infarct region. Meanwhile, the efficacy is superior to rehabilitation training only.

Key words: cerebral ischemic infarction, transcranial electrical stimulation, rehabilitation training, growth associated protein-43, rats