Journal Article

FZJ-2020-01626

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Lesion Size- and Location-Dependent Recruitment of Contralesional Thalamus and Motor Cortex Facilitates Recovery after Stroke in Mice

Aswendt, M. (Corresponding author) ; Pallast, N. ; Wieters, F. ; Baues, M. ; Hoehn, M.FZJ* ; Fink, G. R.FZJ*

2021
Springer New York, NY

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Please use a persistent id in citations: http://hdl.handle.net/2128/26758  doi:10.1007/s12975-020-00802-3

Abstract: Brain lesions caused by cerebral ischemia or hemorrhage lead to a local breakdown of energy homeostasis followed by irreversible cell death and long-term impairment. Importantly, local brain lesions also generate remote functional and structural disturbances, which contribute to the behavioral deficit but also impact the recovery of function. While spontaneous recovery has been associated with endogenous repair mechanisms at the vascular, neural, and immune cell levels, the impact of structural plasticity on sensory-motor dysfunction and recovery thereof remains to be elucidated by longitudinal imaging in a mouse model. Here, we applied behavioral assessments, in vivo fiber tracking, and histological validation in a photothrombotic stroke mouse model. Atlas-based whole-brain structural connectivity analysis and ex vivo histology revealed secondary neurodegeneration in the ipsilesional brain areas, mostly in the dorsal sensorimotor area of the thalamus. Furthermore, we describe for the first time a lesion size-dependent increase in structural connectivity between the contralesional primary motor cortex and thalamus with the ipsilesional cortex. The involvement of the contralesional hemisphere was associated with improved functional recovery relative to lesion size. This study highlights the importance of in vivo fiber tracking and the role of the contralesional hemisphere during spontaneous functional improvement as a potential novel stroke biomarker and therapeutic targets.

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. Kognitive Neurowissenschaften (INM-3)

Research Program(s):

1. 572 - (Dys-)function and Plasticity (POF3-572) (POF3-572)
2. 5252 - Brain Dysfunction and Plasticity (POF4-525) (POF4-525)

Appears in the scientific report 2020

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Database coverage:
; ; ; Clarivate Analytics Master Journal List ; Current Contents - Clinical Medicine ; IF >= 5 ; JCR ; NCBI Molecular Biology Database ; SCOPUS ; Science Citation Index Expanded ; Web of Science Core Collection

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