Effect of Mastication on Functional Recoveries after Permanent Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion in Rats

Objectives

We evaluated whether solid feed is more effective for functional recoveries than liquid feed in rats with ischemic brain injury after permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO).

Methods

A total of 36 male Wistar/ST rats were subjected to MCAO or sham surgery. After MCAO or sham surgery, all rats were provided liquid feed for 14 days. Then, all rats were divided into 3 groups: the solid feeding group, the liquid feeding group, and the solid feeding group of sham. Effect of mastication on functional recoveries after permanent MCAO in rats was evaluated by the limb placement test and Morris water maze (MWM) task.

Results

After surgery, limb placement test scores were equal in both MCAO groups. In the acquisition trials of MWM task, statistically significant differences in escape latency were observed between the liquid feeding group and sham groups at all days, and between the solid feeding group and sham groups at days 3 and 4 of the trials. In the probe trial, statistically significant differences in time spent were observed between the liquid feeding group and sham group. On day 5 of acquisition trials, the time spent in the periphery of the pool in MWM task was significantly different among the 3 groups.

Conclusion

This study suggested that solid diet mastication could be effective for the rehabilitation of sensorimotor and learning/memory dysfunction induced by cerebral infarction.

Key Words: Mastication, MCAO, food