BEHAVIORAL-ASSESSMENT OF ENDOTHELIN-1 INDUCED MIDDLE CEREBRAL-ARTERY OCCLUSION IN THE RAT

THE behavioural effects of unilateral middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) induced by perivascular injection of endothelin, and a unilate ral excitotoxic lesion of the striatum, were explored using the stairc ase test of skilled paw-reaching in the rat. A profound bilateral impa irment in pellet recovery, with a concomitant increase in pellet displ acement, was observed in the MCAO group. By contrast the striatal lesi on group exhibited a primarily contralateral impairment. The findings provide both further insight into the control of unilateral motor func tion and a reliable behavioural endpoint for the assessment of experim ental stroke.