Venna V R, Xu Y, Doran S J, Patrizz A, McCullough L D
Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT, USA.
1] Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT, USA [2] Department of Neurology, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT, USA [3] The Stroke Center at Hartford Hospital, Hartford, CT, USA.
Transl Psychiatry. 2014 Jan 28;4(1):e351. doi: 10.1038/tp.2013.128.
Stroke survivors often experience social isolation. Social interaction improves quality of life and decreases mortality after stroke. Male mice (20-25 g; C57BL/6N), all initially pair housed, were subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Mice were subsequently assigned into one of three housing conditions: (1) Isolated (SI); (2) Paired with their original cage mate who was also subjected to stroke (stroke partner (PH-SP)); or (3) Paired with their original cage mate who underwent sham surgery (healthy partner (PH-HP)). Infarct analysis was performed 72 h after stroke and chronic survival was assessed at day 30. Immediate post-stroke isolation led to a significant increase in infarct size and mortality. Interestingly, mice paired with a healthy partner had significantly lower mortality than mice paired with a stroke partner, despite equivalent infarct damage. To control for changes in infarct size induced by immediate post-stroke isolation, additional cohorts were assessed that remained pair housed for three days after stroke prior to randomization. Levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were assessed at 90 days and cell proliferation (in cohorts injected with 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine, BrdU) was evaluated at 8 and 90 days after stroke. All mice in the delayed housing protocol had equivalent infarct volumes (SI, PH-HP and PH-SP). Mice paired with a healthy partner showed enhanced behavioral recovery compared with either isolated mice or mice paired with a stroke partner. Behavioral improvements paralleled changes in BDNF levels and neurogenesis. These findings suggest that the social environment has an important role in recovery after ischemic brain injury.
中风幸存者常常经历社会隔离。社交互动可改善生活质量并降低中风后的死亡率。雄性小鼠（20 - 25克；C57BL/6N），最初均成对饲养，接受大脑中动脉闭塞（MCAO）手术。随后将小鼠分为三种饲养条件之一：（1）隔离饲养（SI）；（2）与同样经历中风的原笼伴配对（中风伴（PH - SP））；或（3）与接受假手术的原笼伴配对（健康伴（PH - HP））。中风后72小时进行梗死灶分析，并在第30天评估长期存活率。中风后立即隔离导致梗死灶大小和死亡率显著增加。有趣的是，尽管梗死损伤程度相当，但与健康伴配对的小鼠死亡率显著低于与中风伴配对的小鼠。为了控制中风后立即隔离引起的梗死灶大小变化，对另外几组小鼠进行了评估，这些小鼠在中风后保持成对饲养三天，然后再随机分组。在90天时评估脑源性神经营养因子（BDNF）水平，并在中风后8天和90天评估细胞增殖情况（在注射5 - 溴 - 2'-脱氧尿苷（BrdU）的组中）。延迟饲养方案中的所有小鼠梗死体积相当（SI、PH - HP和PH - SP）。与隔离饲养的小鼠或与中风伴配对的小鼠相比，与健康伴配对的小鼠行为恢复增强。行为改善与BDNF水平和神经发生的变化平行。这些发现表明，社会环境在缺血性脑损伤后的恢复中起重要作用。
