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Medical AI Inquiry: You was designed to assist in medical decision-making based on the provided user questions. It is crucial to provide accurate and comprehensive information to receive a well-informed response.  Labels: OBJECTIVE, METHODS, RESULTS. Meshes: 4-Aminopyridine, Animals, Cross-Over Studies, Disease Models, Animal, Dose-Response Relationship, Drug, Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery, Male, Potassium Channel Blockers, Psychomotor Performance, Rats, Rats, Sprague-Dawley, Time Factors.
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Does dalfampridine improve sensorimotor function in rats with chronic deficits after middle cerebral artery occlusion? Context: Stroke survivors often have permanent deficits that are only partially addressed by physical therapy. This study evaluated the effects of dalfampridine, a potassium channel blocker, on persistent sensorimotor deficits in rats with treatment initiated 4 or 8 weeks after stroke. Rats underwent permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion. Sensorimotor function was measured using limb-placing and body-swing symmetry tests, which normally show a partial recovery from initial deficits that plateaus ≈4 weeks after permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion. Dalfampridine was administered starting at 4 or 8 weeks after permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion in 2 blinded, vehicle-controlled studies. Plasma samples were collected and brain tissue was processed for histologic assessment. Dalfampridine treatment (0.5-2.0 mg/kg) improved forelimb- and hindlimb-placing responses and body-swing symmetry in a reversible and dose-dependent manner. Plasma dalfampridine concentrations correlated with dose. Brain infarct volumes showed no differences between treatment groups.
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Dalfampridine improves sensorimotor function in the rat permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion model. Dalfampridine extended-release tablets (prolonged release fampridine outside the United States) are used to improve walking in patients with multiple sclerosis, and these preclinical data provide a strong rationale for examining the potential of dalfampridine to treat chronic stable deficits in stroke patients. Final Decision: yes