Research Article
Effects of Pretreatment with a Combination of Melatonin and Electroacupuncture in a Rat Model of Transient Focal Cerebral Ischemia
Table 1
Neurological deficit scoring system (NDSS) test.
| | | Points |
| Motor tests | Spontaneous activity | | Approaches at least three sides of cage | 0 | Approaches at least one rim but not all sides of cage | 1 | Slight movement | 2 | No movement | 3 | Floor walking | | Straight path | 0 | Curvilinear path | 1 | Walks only in circles | 2 | No walking | 3 |
| Sensorimotor tests | Raising rat by the tail | | Flexion of forelimb | 1 | Flexion of hindlimb | 1 | Thorax twisting | 1 | Left limbs placing task | | Forelimb | | Normal performance | 0 | Delayed (less than 2 seconds) | 1 | Delayed (at least 5 seconds) and/or incomplete performance | 2 | No performance | 3 | Hindlimb | | Normal performance | 0 | Delayed (less than 2 seconds) | 1 | Delayed (at least 5 seconds) and/or incomplete performance | 2 | No performance | 3 |
| Beam balance tests | Walks on the beam | 0 | Grasps side of beam | 1 | Hugs the beam and one limb falls down from the beam | 2 | Hugs the beam and two limbs fall down from the beam or spins on beam (>60 s) | 3 | Attempts to balance on the beam but falls off (>40 s) | 4 | Attempts to balance on the beam but falls off (>20 s) | 5 | Falls off: with no attempt to balance or hang on the beam (<20 s) | 6 |
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Maximal number of point is 21. Points were awarded for inability of performing the tasks. The higher the score, the more severe is the injury.
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