Age effect on motor recovery in a post-acute animal stroke model.

Male Fischer 344 rats aged 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months were trained to walk on a narrow beam, then lesioned in the right hindlimb sensorimotor cortex by photothrombosis. Motor performance was measured daily for 60 days using a 7-point rating scale from which deficit scores were calculated. Tissue analysis included lesion volume measurement after Nissl staining.