Effects of different delayed exercise regimens on cognitive performance in fimbria‑fornix transected rats.

Studies have shown that exercise can positively influence cognitive performance after brain injury. This study investigated the effects of different exercise regimens on allocentric place learning after fimbria‑fornix (FF) transection. One hundred and sixteen pre‑shaped rats were subjected either to a mechanical transection of the FF or control sham surgery and divided into following groups: i) no exercise (NE), ii) voluntary exercise in a running wheel (RW), iii) forced swimming exercise administered as interval training of short (3x5 min) duration (FS‑SI), iv) forced swimming exercise administered as interval training of long (3x15 min) duration (FS‑LI), v) forced swimming exercise administered as one session of short (5 min) duration (FS‑SS), and vi) forced swimming exercise administered as one session of long (15 min) duration (FS‑LS).

Effects of Dimeric PSD-95 Inhibition on Excitotoxic Cell Death and Outcome After Controlled Cortical Impact in Rats.

Therapeutic effects of PSD-95 inhibition have been demonstrated in numerous studies of stroke; however only few studies have assessed the effects of PSD-95 inhibitors in traumatic brain injury (TBI). As the pathophysiology of TBI partially overlaps with that of stroke, PSD-95 inhibition may also be an effective therapeutic strategy in TBI. The objectives of the present study were to assess the effects of a dimeric inhibitor of PSD-95, UCCB01-144, on excitotoxic cell death in vitro and outcome after experimental TBI in rats in vivo.

Delayed voluntary exercise does not enhance cognitive performance after hippocampal injury: an investigation of differentially distributed exercise protocols.

Voluntary exercise has previously been shown to enhance cognitive recovery after acquired brain injury (ABI). The present study evaluated effects of two differentially distributed protocols of delayed, voluntary exercise on cognitive recovery using an allocentric place learning task in an 8-arm radial maze. Fifty-four Wistar rats were subjected to either bilateral transection of the fimbria-fornix (FF) or to sham surgery.

Exercise-induced improvement in cognitive performance after fimbria-fornix transection depends on the timing of exercise administration.

Background: Exercise after brain injury holds major therapeutic potentials, but it is still uncertain whether such an intervention should take place during the critical time window of intrinsic repair mechanisms.

Objective: To assess the effects of acute or delayed voluntary exercise in running wheels on post-injury allocentric place learning in an 8-arm radial maze.

Methods: Forty-eight pre-shaped male rats underwent fimbria-fornix transection (FF) or control surgery (Sham).

Delayed restraint procedure enhances cognitive recovery of spatial function after fimbria-fornix transection.

Purpose: To i) evaluate the effect of a restraint procedure (7 days, 2 h/day) on place learning after fimbria-fornix transection (FF), ii) investigate effects of early vs. late administration of restraint, and iii) establish effects of the restraint procedure on expression of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in prefrontal cortex and hippocampus.

Methods: Fifty rats subjected to FF or sham surgery and divided into groups exposed to restraint immediately (early restraint) or 21 days (late restraint) after surgery were trained to acquire an allocentric place learning task.

Equal effects of typical environmental and specific social enrichment on posttraumatic cognitive functioning after fimbria-fornix transection in rats.

Enriched environment (EE) has been shown to have beneficial effects on cognitive recovery after brain injury. Typical EE comprises three components: (i) enlarged living area providing physical activation, (ii) sensory stimulation, and (iii) social stimulation. The present study assessed the specific contribution of the social stimulation.