Neuroplasticity after experimental stroke

描述(由申请人提供)：中风仍然是美国长期残疾的主要原因。神经可塑性被认为是中枢神经系统损伤后功能恢复的主要机制之一。因为神经元网络是高度可塑性的，并随着活动而重组，神经元网络水平的变化很可能是与缺血相关的功能缺陷和恢复的主要和基本方面的基础。强制诱导运动疗法(CIMT)是通过固定健康肢体来强制使用患肢，在促进一些慢性中风患者的运动功能恢复方面显示出了良好的前景，并在增加海马灰质体积方面产生了意想不到的好处。尽管CIMT后的一系列后果已经被很好地记录下来，包括促进神经元萌发和突触形成，改善运动输出的皮质表征，降低对侧皮质的兴奋性，但对网络水平的神经可塑性的变化和远程脑区功能的恢复还没有很好的了解。通过多学科的方法，这项提议的主要目标将决定CIMT是否恢复新皮质-海马区网络，增强海马区神经发生和功能。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Stroke remains the leading cause of long-term disability in the US. Neural plasticity is thought to be one of the major mechanisms underlying functional recovery after central nervous system CNS injury. Because neuronal networks are highly plastic and reorganize with activity, changes at the neuronal network level are very likely to underlie major and fundamental aspects of ischemia-related functional deficits and recovery. Constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT), the forced use of the affected limb by immobilization of the healthy limb, has shown promise in enhancing motor function recovery in some chronic stroke patients, with unexpect benefit in increasing hippocampal gray matter volume. Despite a myriad of consequences following CIMT have been well documented, including enhanced neuronal sprouting and synapse formation, improved cortical representation of motor output and reduced excitability of contralateral cortex, changes in neuroplasticity at the network level and the restoration of function of remote brain regions are not well understood. With multidisciplinary approaches, the main goal of this proposal will determine whether CIMT restores neocortical-hippocampal network, enhances hippocampal neurogenesis and function.