Junghee Park, Hyoin Hwang, Hyekyoung Shin+3 more · 2026 · Journal of stroke and cerebrovascular diseases : the official journal of National Stroke Association · Elsevier · added 2026-04-24
Stroke induces severe neurological impairment, however, there is limited understanding of the mechanisms underlying post-stroke recovery. Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) and brain-d Show more
Stroke induces severe neurological impairment, however, there is limited understanding of the mechanisms underlying post-stroke recovery. Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) have been implicated in tissue responses to ischemic injury; however, their temporal interactions in middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) models are not fully understood. Male C57BL/6 mice (7-8 weeks) were subjected to transient MCAO (tMCAO). Motor behavior, cerebral blood flow, and temporal changes in NRF2, heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), and BDNF expression were assessed over 14 days. Cerebral blood flow in the ischemic cortex remained significantly reduced for up to 14 days after MCAO. Motor deficits were most severe on day 3 and showed gradual recovery by day 7. NRF2 expression peaked on day 3, whereas HO-1 and BDNF expression increased on days 7 and 14, coinciding with improved motor performance and increased neuronal preservation. These findings indicate that activation of the NRF2/HO-1 pathway is temporally associated with increased expression of endogenous BDNF and recovery of motor function following ischemic injury in male mice. Show less
no PDFDOI: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2026.108616