RESUMO
Neurological, locomotor, and behavioral changes in 20 Wistar rats with permanent proximal occlusion of the middle cerebral artery and 18 control sham-operated animals were monitored for 2 months at 10-day intervals. Neurological deficit was maximum immediately after occlusion (3.0 0.6 points), then progressively decreased, but did not completely disappear (0.70 0.06 points on day 60). In control animals neurological status returned to normal on days 10-15. The degree of ketamine-induced rotational asymmetry was 4.0 0.7 rpm over 40 days after surgery and decreased to 2.5 0.6 rpm on day 60. In control rats this parameter only transiently increased to 1.00 0.03 rpm (tdelta=2.5, p<0.05). The time of stay on a rotarod and the latency of passive avoidance in rats with focal cerebral ischemia were lower than in control animals throughout the experiment. The results of complex tests can be used in the experimental search for new drugs for the therapy and rehabilitation of stroke patients.
