Figure 5.

Cortical delivery of GÖ6976 promotes the recovery of forelimb function after C4 DH. Representative video captured images of a success (A–D) or failed (E–H) pellet retrieval performance at 6 weeks post-C4 DH. For one successful pellet retrieval, forelimb lift (A, green arrow), reach into the feeding tubes (B, green arrow), forepaw digits open, pronation grasp, supination movements (C, red arrow), and take pellet to mouth (D, red arrow) were observed. For a failed pellet retrieval, forelimb lift (E) and reach into the feeding tubes (F) were observed (green arrows); but the rat could not open the digits and grasp the pellets (G, red arrow). The pellets were dragged out of the feeding tube and fell to the floor out of reach (H, red arrow). Quantification shows that the success rate is significantly higher in groups treated with either cortical delivery of GÖ6976 alone or a combined treatment with cortical delivery of GÖ6976 plus the lesion site injection of lenti-ChABC, when compared with other groups. Moreover, the combined treatment shows even a greater effect in pellet retrieval than the single cortical delivery of GÖ6976 at sixth (I) and seventh (J) weeks after surgery (mean ± SD; n = 6, *, ∞, P < 0.05).