Astrocytic Gq pathway activation enhances the efficacy of rehabilitation after stroke.

Stroke is a leading cause of functional impairment. As rehabilitation has a limited effect, it is essential to advance future treatments and enhance the efficacy of rehabilitation. This study focused on the use of astrocytes to augment the efficacy of rehabilitation for strokes. It utilized chemogenetics to specifically activate astrocytes in the peri-infarct region of a mouse photothrombosis model. The mice were subjected to immunohistochemical analysis and behavioral tests to evaluate the effects of astrocytic Gq pathway activation after an induced stroke. The timing of astrocytic activation was separated from that of rehabilitative training. It was observed that chemogenetic astrocytic activation prior to rehabilitation significantly augmented the efficacy of the training and promoted functional motor recovery after the induced stroke. Consequently, a better understanding of this mechanism could be a significant step toward future therapeutic breakthroughs.