Abstract: Objective To evaluate the effect on the stoke model of rat by functional magnetic resonance imaging; evaluation (fMRI) combined with the nervous' symptom score. Method After successfully modeled, 40 MACO model rats were randomly divided into model group and exercise group, 20 animals were assigned in each group. The recovery of the rats was synthetically evaluated by the nervous symptom score on Day1, 10, 20, 30. The cerebral infraction position in both groups was detected by fMRI on Day3, 30. Result The score in both groups on Day30 was significantly higher than the Day1. But the score in exercise group's was significantly higher than the model group (P<0.05). The T1WI, T2WI were normal, and diffusion ensor ractograph (DTT) showed bilateral nerve fiber bundle was symmetrical without interruption in normal rats. On Day 3, the exercise group, the T1WI showed low signal strip shadow and the T2WI showed large flake of high signal shadow in right cerebral hemisphere, the fiber bundle in right hemisphere was significantly decreased and broke off compared with the left hemisphere. On Day 30, T1WI, T2WI showed large areas of malacia in right hemisphere, the fiber bundle was obviously fewer than the opposite side and have been broken off. The blood oxygenation level dependent-functional magnetic resonance imaging (BOLD-fMRI) discovered the activated spot appeared in very different position and had poor reproducibility in different group rats and before-after study in the same rat. Conclusion The exercise therapy method could significantly improve the nervous symptom of stroke model rats. DTT could accurately detect the pathologic change of the nerve fiber bundle after the rats have been stroked. BOLD-fMRI was not appropriate to detect the rat's allokinetic activation position under anesthesia state.

Key words: Rat, Middle cerebral artery occlusion model, Exercise therapy