Effect of antidepressants on body weight, ethology and tumor growth of human pancreatic carcinoma xenografts in nude mice

AIM: To investigate the effects of mirtazapine and fluoxetine, representatives of the noradrenergic and specific serotonergic antidepressant (NaSSA) and se- lective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepres- sant respectively, on body weight, ingestive behavior, locomotor activity and tumor growth of human pancre- atic carcinoma xenografts in nude mice. METHODS: A subcutaneous xenograft model of hu- man pancreatic cancer cell line SW1990 was estab- lished in nude mice. The tumor-bearing mice were ran- domly divided into mirtazapine group [10 mg/(kg·d)], fluoxetine group [10 mg/(kg·d)] and control group (an equivalent normal saline solution) (7 mice in each group). Doses of all drugs were administered orally, once a day for 42 d. Tumor volume and body weight were measured biweekly. Food intake was recorded once a week. Locomotor activity was detected weekly using an open field test (OFT). RESULTS: Compared to the fluoxetine, mirtazapine significantly increased food intake from d 14 to 42 and attenuated the rate of weight loss from d 28 to 42 (t = 4.38, P < 0.05). Compared to the control group, food intake was significantly suppressed from d 21 to 42 and weight loss was promoted from d 35 to 42 in the fluoxetine group (t = 2.52, P < 0.05). There was a significant difference in body weight of the mice after removal of tumors among the three groups. The body weight of mice was the heaviest (13.66 ± 1.55 g) in the mirtazapine group and the lightest (11.39 ± 1.45 g) in the fluoxetine group (F(2,12) = 11.43, P < 0.01). The behavioral test on d 7 showed that the horizontal and vertical activities were significantly increased in the mirtazapine group compared with the fluoxetine and control groups (F(2,18) = 10.89, P < 0.01). These effects disappeared in the mirtazapine and fluoxetine groups during 2-6 wk. The grooming activity was higher in the mirtazapine group than in the fluoxetine group (10.1 ± 2.1 vs 7.1 ± 1.9 ) (t = 2.40, P < 0.05) in the second week. There was no significant difference in tumor vol- ume and tumor weight of the three groups. CONCLUSION: Mirtazapine and fluoxetine have no effect on the growth of pancreatic tumor. However, mirtazapine can significantly increase food intake and improve nutrition compared with fluoxetine in a pan- creatic cancer mouse model.

Designing Socially Sound Poultry FarmingmMatching Hen Ethology, Farm Management and Landscape Quality

In order to receive a licence to produce, poultry farmers have to take into account societal demands, among others： animal welfare, healthy working conditions for the workers and landscape quality. A way to reach a combination of these goals is to create a design for the poultry house and outdoor run. We propose a methodology based on five steps, which enables us to create a design that takes into consideration societal demands and that can be tested on its effects. These five steps are： 1. Giving a theoretical background on the societal demands （hen ethology, farm management and landscape quality） and based on this; 2. Giving a set of design criteria. 3. Describing the cttrrent state of the farm, in order to know its current qualities, 4. Making a design of the farm using the sets of criteria as guiding principle. 5. Reflecting on the design, to show whether the different criteria can be combined and where compromises are needed. A case study on an organic farm in the centre of the Netherlands showed that hen welfare, farm management and landscape quality can be improved together, although some measures do not add to all design criteria. Especially the effect on landscape quality and farm management is variable： the latter is also depending on the personal motivation of the farmer.

What If I Told You Camouflage is a Myth? Animal Coloration is Mainly A-biotic and not Biotic (Camouflage)

In the present article,the author posits that the perception that animals apparently display a strategy of avoiding detection by means of camouflage—i.e.,by disguising themselves in the natural colours of their environment—is not the actual case in nature but,rather,merely anecdotal.Animal coloration is mainly a-biotic(eco-physiological)and not biotic(camouflage).The contention regarding the absence of the phenomenon of camouflage among animals as a common evolutionary response is based on three arguments:(1)that reflecting the natural colours of the environment is linked to ecophysiology;(2)that predator and prey constitute“an evolutionary pair”and,accordingly,they know how to identify one another(in order to survive they employ different strategies,of which camouflage is not one of them);and (3)that the approach of relating animal camouflage to reflecting the colours of the environment is an anthropocentric one.Rather than the accepted biotic-ethological approach(colour camouflage),the present article suggests the recognition of a-biotic and eco-physiological conditions as a distinct research field,whose title“Reflection of environmental colours by animals”,along with this article,calls for eco-physiologists to demonstrate that this approach indeed offers a special contribution to the understanding of colouration in animals.

Effect of acupotomy versus electroacupuncture on ethology and morphology in a rabbit model of knee osteoarthritis

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the treatment effect of acupotomy(Apo) in a rabbit model of knee osteoarthritis(KOA), compare the results of Apo versus electroacupuncture(E-Apu) on ethology, morphology, and structure of the articular cartilage surface in a rabbit model of KOA, and analyze the differences in the treatment effects of Apo versus E-Apu.METHODS: Twenty-eight male New Zealand white rabbits were randomized into four groups: normal control, blank model, Apo, and E-Apu(n = 7 in each group). Except for the normal control group, the left hindlegs of all rabbits were fixed in an extended position for 5 weeks to establish the KOA model.The passive range of motion(PROM) and Lequesne index were measured before and after the establishment of the KOA model to assess the ethology in all groups. Safranin O-fast green staining and the Mankin score were used to assess the morphological cartilaginous changes to compare the effect of Apo versus E-Apu on the degeneration of articular cartilage, and to identify which therapy was superior in treating KOA.RESULTS: Compared with before the establishment of the KOA model, the Lequesne index of the KOA model rabbits was significantly increased(P <0.01), while the PROM was significantly decreased(P < 0.01). The articular cartilaginous tissue in the three model groups exhibited pathological variations in the form of laminar derangement of cartilage cells, and so the Mankin score was significantly increased compared with the control group(P <0.01). At 1 week after the final treatment session,compared with the blank model group, both the Apo and E-Apu groups showed a significant decrease in the Lequesne index(P < 0.01), and attenuation in the degree of morphologic pathological changes(P < 0.05); The Apo improved the PROM significantly compared with the blank model group(P < 0.05), while the E-Apu had no effect(P > 0.05).Furthermore, compared with the E-Apu group, the Apo group had a significantly lower Lequesne index(P < 0.05), and a significantly greater PROM(P <0.05).CONCLUSION: In a rabbit model of KOA, both Apo and E-Apu reduce disorders of ethology and morphology, and improve the condition of the articular cartilage. The results suggest that Apo is more effective than E-Apu in improving the PROM and alleviating symptoms resulting from cartilage damage in a rabbit model of KOA.

Effects of cotransplantated Schwann cells and neural stem cells in a rat model of Alzheimer's disease

Schwann cells （SCs） are significantly better at promoting neural stem cell （NSCs） proliferation, differentiation and synaptic formation when cocultured with NSCs in vitro, compared with cultured in a single nerve growth factor. The present study transplanted NSCs and SCs into the brain of a rat model of Alzheimer＇s disease to investigate the effect of cotransplantation. Results show transplantation of both NSCs alone and NSCs ＋ SCs significantly promoted learning and memory functions in Alzheimer＇s disease rats, decreased glial fibrillary acidic protein and calcium binding protein S100β expression, but increased expression of the cholinergic neuron marker choline acetyl transferase mRNA. The effect of NSCs ＋ SCs cotransplantation was, however, more significant. NSCs and SCs cotransplantation significantly reduced the number of astrocytes and increased cholinergic neurons, facilitating the recovery of learning and memory function, compared with NSCs transplantation alone.

Behavioural and energetic consequences of competition among three overwintering swan(Cygnus spp.)species

Background:Winter numbers of the northwest European population of Bewick's Swans(Cygnus columbianus bewickii)declined recently by c.40%.During the same period,numbers of two sympatric and ecologically-similar congeners,the Mute Swan(Cygnus olor)and Whooper Swan(Cygnus cygnus)showed increases or stability.It has been suggested that these opposing population trends could have a causal relationship,as Mute and Whooper Swans are larger and competitively dominant to Bewick's Swans in foraging situations.If so,effects of competition of Mute and Whooper Swans on Bewick's Swans should be detectable as measurable impacts on behaviour and energetics.Methods:Here,we studied the diurnal behaviour and energetics of 1083 focal adults and first-winter juveniles("cygnets")of the three swan species on their winter grounds in eastern England.We analysed video recordings to derive time-activity budgets and these,together with estimates of energy gain and expenditure,were analysed to determine whether individual Bewick's Swans altered the time spent on key behaviours when sharing feeding habitat with other swan species,and any consequences for their energy expenditure and net energy gain.Results:All three swan species spent a small proportion of their total time(0.011)on aggressive interactions,and these were predominantly intraspecific(≥0.714).Mixed-effects models indicated that sharing feeding habitat with higher densities of Mute and Whooper Swans increased the likelihood of engaging in aggression for cygnet Bewick's Swans,but not for adults.Higher levels of interspecific competition decreased the time spent by Bewick's Swan cygnets on foraging,whilst adults showed the opposite pattern.When among low densities of conspecifics(<c.200 individuals/km^(2)),individual Bewick's Swans spent more time on vigilance in the presence of higher densities of Mute and Whooper Swans,whilst individuals within higher density Bewick's Swan flocks showed the opposite pattern.Crucially,we found no evidence that greater numbers of interspecific competitors affected the net energy gain of either adult or cygnet Bewick's Swans.Conclusions:We found no evidence that Bewick's Swan net energy gain was affected by sharing agricultural feeding habitat with larger congeners during winter.This was despite some impacts on the aggression,foraging and vigilance behaviours of Bewick's Swans,especially among cygnets.It is unlikely therefore that competition between Bewick's Swans and either Mute or Whooper Swans at arable sites in winter has contributed to the observed decline in Bewick's Swan numbers.Further research is needed,however,to test for competition in other parts of the flyway,including migratory stopover sites and breeding areas.

Consciousness-raising in animal welfare through practical experience with horses

In Italy, Law no. 189/2004 (enforced by law n. 201/2010) on safeguarding animal welfare establishes penalties for anyone keeping animals in conditions that are incompatible with their physiological or ethological needs. Thus, in order to recognize the condition of poor welfare or mistreatment, the training of a veterinarian needs to adopt a new approach to animal well being —that is somewhat different from the health ideas that have been prevalent so far. In this research we carry out an evaluation of the competence of veterinary students after a theoric 20-hour course in ethology and after three weeks of practical horses handling class. For two years 24 students were selected to took part in a program of horse management, in order to reach a high level of practical competence, from the ability to recognize non-verbal signals from horses, to cleaning and grooming, and to a more specific and refined ability—the establishment of a relationship with horse. While the skill level at the beginning was generally low, being the students’ backgrounds mainly urban, at the end of the practical course nearly 90% of them succeeded in the area of horse-human relationship, reaching evaluations in a range of good-excellent scores (p < 0.01). By combining over the years the applied ethology knowledge with the more profession-oriented health-related subjects, veterinary education will give students the resources that can better assist them in facing the challenges they will meet in their working lives. The fact that too many unlawful horses’ estab-lishments are often found all over the countries point indeed to a need for new experienced, well-trained professional people.

Development of online learning activities to enhance student knowledge of animal behaviour prior to engaging in live animal handling practical sessions

Learning activities were developed to increase the awareness of animal behaviour among first year students enrolled in animal-associated degrees prior to students engaging in hands-on live animal practical sessions. Learning activities were developed in an easy to use collegial online environment and to encourage student engagement in learning activities. One hundred and one students were given a preliminary and post learning activity survey to assess their initial knowledge and experience of animal behaviour, as well as to determine if the learning activities increased the students’ knowledge of animal behaviour after engaging in the learning activities. Of the students surveyed, most currently owned pets or have had pets (91.1%), some had animal-related qualifications (22.8%) and currently worked in an animal-related position (24.8%). There was a significant difference (70.3% increase) in student responses after engaging in the learning activities with the major change occurring in the students’ understanding of the term ‘ethology’, regardless of the level of qualifications or animal-related career experience. In addition, after engaging in the learning activities, most students believed that they could better articulate and interpret animal behaviors based on their observations. Overall, the inclusion of learning activities successfully increased the ability of students to understand behavioral traits of animals, which will increase safety in live animal practical sessions. The learning activities also encouraged a collegial learning environment that enhanced new knowledge construction amongst the students.

Friendly Greetings Elicit Improved Effectiveness of Dog Behaviour

Canus lupus familiais (domestic dogs) tend to elicit from (the sign stimulus of) a friendly greeting, improved effectiveness of behaviour, an (observable) innate, likely hormonal, (possibly oxytocin) mediated response (a Mebir). Breakthroughs in the natural and behavioural sciences, political ideology, and education come from evidence for {1} the Mebir, {2} the theorem, humans are loving, non-competitive, and non-aggressive (in part from two new theories of evolution), and {3} the Mebir providing social species with cultural and evolutionary freedom (e.g. the social brain hypothesis is substantiated). Other social species (including humans and songbirds), and possibly “non-social” species (e.g., including domestic cats) likely undergo a Mebir. Social species more frequently undergo social interactions suggesting they more frequently undergo the Mebir, and therefore have greater cultural and evolutionary freedom. Two hypotheses were tested and proven invalid. Friendly greetings do not make dogs more effective in behaviour (nor do they invoke innate hunting behaviours as a displaced innate response (that in wolves improve fitness)) (N = 50), and do not make dogs walk faster (N = 29). Data are inclusive of various dog breeds, mixed breeds, both sexes, and all ages from chance encounters with dogs being walked on a sidewalk in a naturalistic setting. Three synchronous greetings were used to elicit the Mebir in dogs, eye contact, friendly verbal greetings, and handwaves. Behavioural responses were commonly exaggerated but weak for certain individuals. Responses included heightened curiosity (about objects and the environment), courageous exploration, creative and playful behaviour, assertiveness (e.g., in pulling on the leash), “pronounced social affiliation seeking” with dogs, pedestrians, and the dog’s owner, heightened aggressiveness (when territorial), and perhaps heightened concentration. Past research indicates that dog learning is improved from social interactions with humans.

The Aesthetics of Nature in Deleuze＇s Philosophy

In Critique of Pure Reason （1996）, Immanuel Kant says that the term ＂aesthetic＂ means ＂the science of the laws of sensibility＂ and suggests giving up usage of it to indicate ＂the critique of taste＂ which executes the criticism of the beautiful. It is well known that Gilles Deleuze was inspired by all genres of the arts, namely movies, paintings, music, and so on. However, this paper argues that what is more essential for Deleuzian philosophy is aesthetics as a science of sensibility. What motivated Deleuze, especially from the 1950s to the 1960s, seems to have consisted in discovering the weaknesses of the Kantian aesthetic in order to take it apart. In fact, one of the main themes in Difference and Repetition （1994） was to free ＂sensibility＂ itself from Kant＇s philosophical system. This theme subsisted in his writing even after the 1970s, and led him to develop a ＂natural philosophy＂ of sorts. This is because the supposition that ＂the sensibility itself＂ is independent from any human faculties gave him an opportunity to carefully consider the multiplicity and productivity of Nature itself. Finally, Deleuze created his own ＂ethology＂ that would capture the increasingly interrelated movements within Nature produced by heterogeneous elements. This paper describes the process of Deleuzian thought as outlined above, surveying his view of Kantian philosophy and the development of his natural philosophy as ＂the aesthetics of Nature.＂

The Protective Effect of Jiujiuguiyi, a Medicine and Food Homologous Formula, on Acute Alcohol Poisoning Mice

Background: Nowadays, acute alcoholic intoxication has become the third public problem in China, and the anti-inebriation products mainly aimed at increasing the activity of enzyme involved in the alcohol metabolism, which is a single mechanism that can accelerate alcohol metabolism. Thus, a new formula, Jiujiuguiyi (JJGY) which could protect liver, relieve the abnormal excitability of the center and improve muscle retardation at the same time is designed by us. Methods: The model of acute alcoholic intoxication was established by intragastric administration with 0.12 ml/10g 50% alcohol in mice. JJGY was orally administrated (gavage) once a day for 20 consecutive days before the establishment of acute alcoholic model. Mice were randomly divided into 8 groups with 8 each: blank control group (CON), model group (M), Haiwangjinzun positive control group (HWJZ), experimental groups (AL, AH, BL, BH, AB). Giant, crawling time on the rota-rod, the activities of aspartate amino trans- ferase (AST), alanine amino transferase (ALT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in both liver and serum, alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) in liver as well as the HE staining of liver slices, the formation of malondialdehyde (MDA) in serum were determined after acute alcoholic intoxication. Results: Compared with model group, JJGY significantly decreased the AST and ALT activity in liver and serum and MDA activity in serum. Meanwhile, it enhanced the ADH and ALDH level in liver as well as the hepatic and serous SOD activity, indicating more efficient metabolism of alcohol and less hepatic injury. HE staining results also proved that JJGY could reduce alcoholic liver cell injury, and the effect was more obvious in the group medicated before alcohol administration. Moreover, JJGY significantly prolonged the crawling time on the rota-rod and improved the gait of mice and the effect was proved to be better than the widely used health product Haiwangjinzun. Conclusions: This study suggests that JJGY is able to protect liver, relieve the abnormal excitability of the center and improve muscle retardation after acute alcoholic intoxication. Its liver protection effect is likely related to its modulation on the alcohol metabolizing and antioxidant enzymes.

Lack of Effect of the 5-HT4 Receptor Ligands RS 67333 and RS 39604 on Murine Agonistic Behaviour

In comparison to studies investigating the roles of 5-HT1, 5-HT2 and 5-HT3 receptors in aggressive behaviour there is a dearth of material examining the function of 5-HT4 receptors in this behaviour. In view of this, the current study examined the effects of the 5-HT4 receptor partial agonist RS 67333 and antagonist RS 39604 in murine agonistic behaviour. RS 67333 failed to produce any significant changes in the offensive. Significant variation in the frequency of evade behaviour was detected but this occurred between treatment groups rather than with controls. Interestingly, both the frequency and duration of stretched attend behaviour were increased by RS 67333 0.1 mg/kg, a result indicative of increased risk assessment. The administration of RS 39604 (0.01 - 1 mg/kg) produced significant variation in the fre-quency and duration of following, and aggressive grooming. Frozen crouch behaviour was also increased significantly at 0.1 mg/kg. It is concluded that since the 5-HT4 receptor ligands employed in this study produced very few significant behavioural effects across the treatment groups, 5-HT4 receptors do not play a role in the modulation of murine aggressive behaviour.

Mapping the Behavioral Signatures of Shank3b Mice in Both Sexes

Autism spectrum disorders(ASD)are characterized by social and repetitive abnormalities.Although the ASD mouse model with Shank3b mutations is widely used in ASD research,the behavioral phenotype of this model has not been fully elucidated.Here,a 3D-motion capture system and linear discriminant analysis were used to comprehensively record and analyze the behavioral patterns of male and female Shank3b mutant mice.It was found that both sexes replicated the core and accompanied symptoms of ASD,with significant sex differences.Further,Shank3b heterozygous knockout mice exhibited distinct autistic behaviors,that were significantly different from those those observed in the wild type and homozygous knockout groups.Our findings provide evidence for the inclusion of both sexes and experimental approaches to efficiently characterize heterozygous transgenic models,which are more clinically relevant in autistic studies.

Early Cretaceous shifting of Zoophycos in the Ouarsenis Mountains(northwestern Algeria)

Early Cretaceous succession of the Oued Fodda Formation in the Ouarsenis Mountains(northwestern Algeria) is mainly composed of marl—limestone alternations, which are subdivided into four informal units(Units 1 to 4), based on distinct lithological, stratonomical, and ichnological features. The ichnological analysis reveals a low diversity of the trace-fossil assemblage, which is exclusively reported from Units 2 and 3.The ichnoassemblage contains six ichnotaxa(Chondrites intricatus, Ophiomorpha isp., Planolites isp., Thalassinoides isp., Zoophycos brianteus, and Zoophycos cauda-galli), among which Zoophycos and Chondrites are the most common elements of the assemblage and occur in distinct mud-rich substrates showing different bioturbation intensities. The development of Zoophycos in the middle part of Unit 2 shows a high degree of bioturbation(bioturbation index(BI) = 4). Zoophycos specimens are of large size, between 45 cm and 75 cm in width, which were interpreted to have formed in a lower offshore environment where the oxygenation amount was optimal, the sedimentation rate was low, and the benthic food was abundant on the seafloor. Toward the upper part of Unit 2, Zoophycos-bearing levels exhibit a less intense degree of bioturbation(BI between 1 and2) in contrast to Planolites-and Chondrites-bearing levels which have a bioturbation index(BI) between 3 and4. At these levels, Zoophycos displays relatively small, coiled to U-shaped spreiten, probably in response to stressful and dysoxic conditions prevailing in the water bottom. With improved oxygenation in a quiet lower offshore to shelf margin environment in Unit 3, the benthic organisms recovered, as represented by medium to large size Zoophycos in association with Ophiomorpha and scarce Chondrites burrows, even if the overall bioturbation intensity is very low. The combination of trace-fossil assemblage and lithofacies of the Oued Fodda Formation indicates relatively stable outer shelf environments below the storm wave base, which corresponds classically to the lower offshore to shelf edge environments, and the prevailing palaeoecological conditions are optimal and stressful for the benthic organisms.

Investigation of the differences between the “COLD” and “HOT” nature of Coptis chinensis Franch and its processed materials based on animal’s temperature tropism

The description and differentiation of the so-called "Cold" and "Hot" natures, the primary "Drug Naure" of Chinese medicine, is the focus of theoretical research. In this study, the divergency between the "Cold" and the "Hot" natures was investigated through examining the temperature tropism of mice affected by Coptis chinensis Franch and its processed materials by using a cold/hot plate differentiating technology. After exposure to C. chinensis Franch, the macroscopic behavioral index of the remaining rate (RR) on a warm pad (40℃ ) significantly increased (P<0.05), suggesting the enhancement of Hot tropism. The internal indexes of adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) activity and oxygen consuming volume decreased significantly (P<0.05), suggesting the decapability of energy metabolism. This external behavior of Hot tropism might reflect the internal Cold nature of C. chinensis Franch. However, the processed materials of C. chinensis Franch exhibited a different Cold nature in temperature tropism compared with crude C. chinensis Franch (CC): the Cold nature of bile-processed C. chinensis Franch (BC) enhanced while the ginger-processed C. chinensis Franch (GC) changed inversely. The changing sequence was consistent with the theoretical prognostication. It is indicated that the external Cold & Hot natures of Chinese medicine may possibly reflect in an ethological way for the changes of animal’s temperature tropism which might be internally regulated by the body’s energy metabolism.

Study of rat neuronal genes with ordered differential display method

Ordered differential display (ODD) was developed recently and has been applied to systematic comparison of expression profiles of genes. It was further improved with the specific complexing property between biotin and streptavidin by the authors. First, random primer and biotinylated oligo (dT) primer were used to make pools of double strand cDNA. Second, streptavidin-coated PCR tube is used to absorb 3′ESTs specifically to avoid the negative effect of other DNA fragments. In the case of 3′ESTs comparison patterns between embryonic brain and body of SD rat, more than forty differentially expressed genes were cloned and identified. The function of rZIC gene, one of the genes identified and cloned, was studied through ethological experiments. The result showed that rZIC gene was associated with locomotion activity of adult mice.

Influence of acupuncture on neural movement function in rats with middle cerebral artery occlusion-A randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVES:To observe recovery in movement function in rats with middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO) after acupuncture treatment.METHODS:According to the randomized and controlled principle 1384 rats were divided into the ba-sic control group(including the normal,sham,model control,model without intervention,Nimodipine,and para-Renzhong groups) and the acupuncture group(including the Neiguan(PC 6),Weizhong(BL 40),Sanyinjiao(SP 6),Chize(LU 5),Renzhong(GV 6) and non-acupoint groups).MCAO was modeled by Zea-longa's thread ligation and rats with scores of 1-3,as assessed by Zausinger's six-point method,were used in this study.Moreover,in the acupuncture group each acupoint was set with 12 different parameters by the orthogonal intersection method,resulting in 78 groups with 18 rats per group.The rats were treated by acupuncture once every 12 h for a total of six sessions and neurobehavioral scores were measured after each session.The neurobehavioral scores were compared by one-way ANOVA using the statistical software SPSS 17.0.RESULTS:After acupuncture therapy the mean neurobehavioral scores in MCAO rats increased gradually at each time point with a significant difference among the six scores,but with no significant differences between the fourth(48 h) and the fifth score(60 h),and between the fifth(60 h) and the sixth(72 h) score(P > 0.05).CONCLUSIONS:MCAO rats gradually recovered movement function over multiple acupuncture sessions.After the fouth acupuncture session(48 h),the neurobehavioral scores of rats with cerebral infarction remained stable.Acupuncture treatment had a reliable curative effect on movement function in cerebral infarction rats.