Effect of willed movement training on neurorehabilitation after focal cerebral ischemia and on the neural plasticity-associated signaling pathway.

Neurorehabilitation training is a therapeutic intervention for the loss of neural function induced by focal cerebral ischemia, however, the effect varies depending on the neurorehabilitation exercises. Willed movement (WM) training is defined as task‑oriented training, which increases enthusiasm of patients to accomplish a specific task. The current study was performed to the evaluate effect of WM training on neurorehabilitation following focal cerebral ischemia, and further investigate the influence on neural plasticity‑associated signaling pathway. Sprague‑Dawley rats following temporary middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) were randomly divided into four groups: tMCAO (no rehabilitation training), CR (control rehabilitation), EM (environmental modification) and WM groups. Rats in the CR group were forced to exercise (running) in a rotating wheel. In the WM group, food was used to entice rats to climb on a herringbone ladder. Herringbone ladders were also put into the cages of the rats in the CR and EM groups, however without the food attraction. WM group exhibited an improvement in neurobehavioral performance compared with other groups. TTC staining indicated an evident reduction in brain damage in the WM group. There were increased synaptic junctions following WM training, based on the observations of transmission election microscopy. Investigation of the molecular mechanism suggested that WM training conferred the greatest effect on stimulating the extracellular signal‑related kinase (ERK)/cyclic adenosine monophosphate response element‑binding protein 1 (CREB) pathway and glutamate receptor 2 (GluR2)/glutamate receptor interacting protein 1‑associated protein 1 (GRASP‑1)/protein interacting with C‑kinase 1 (PICK1) cascades among groups. Collectively, the improvement of neurobehavioral performance by WM training following tMCAO is suggested to involve the ERK/CREB pathway and GluR2/GRASP‑1/PICK1 cascades. The present study provided a preliminary foundation for future research on the therapeutic effect of WM training against stroke‑induced neuron damage.