Abstract #0621

Hoehn M, Justicia C, Wiedermann D, Ramos-Cabrer P, Weber R

We present a method to predict functional outcome of rats after stroke. Combined BOLD-fMRI and electrophysiological longitudinal studies were performed on rats during 7 weeks after MCAO, acquiring EPI images during electrical stimulation of the forepaws. Following stroke we observed: 1) Animals with unaltered BOLD and SSEPs. 2) Animals with transient (2-3 weeks) loss of BOLD signal and distortion of SSEPs in the affected hemisphere. 3) Animals with permanent loss of BOLD and SSEPs in the affected hemisphere. The observation of abnormal electrical activity and lack of BOLD, provides early indication of late functional recovery following stroke.