Environmental and pharmacological intervention following cortical brain injury
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Date
2003
Authors
Hastings, Erica
University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Arts and Science
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Faculty of Arts and Science, 2003
Abstract
This thesis focuses on the effects of pharmacological and environmental interventions following perinatal prefrontal cortex lesions. Rats given postnatal day 3 medial prefrontal cortex lesions were provided with one of the following treatments: basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), complex-housing, tactile stimulation, or a combined treatment of both bFGF and tactile stimulation or bFGF and complex-housing. Rats given postnatal day 3 orbital prefrontal cortex lesions were housed in a complex environment. The findings of these studies suggest that bFGF, complex-housing or tactile stimulation are beneficial after early brain injury. The combined treatment of bFGF with complex-housing provides a synergistic effect, as the combined condition is more advantageous than bFGF alone. In contrast, the combined treatment of bFGF with tactile stimulation produced adverse effects. These results suggest that pharmacological and environmental manipulations change cortical plasticity and therefore functional recovery after neonatal cortical injury.
Description
xv, 177 leaves : ill. (some col.) ; 29 cm.
Keywords
Dissertations, Academic , Brain research , Brain -- Wounds and injuries , Brain -- Wounds and injuries -- Treatment , Rats as laboratory animals