Delta Sleep-Inducing Peptide Boosts Motor Recovery After Stroke in Rats

Stroke, a leading cause of long-term disability, results from interrupted blood flow to the brain, leading to neuronal damage and significant motor deficits. Current treatments primarily focus on acute intervention, but effective strategies for long-term functional recovery remain limited. This study addresses the urgent need for novel therapeutic approaches by investigating the potential of Delta Sleep-Inducing Peptide (DSIP), a naturally occurring neuropeptide, to improve post-stroke motor function. Specifically, it aims to understand how DSIP administration impacts neurological recovery in a rat model of focal stroke.

DSIP treatment significantly improved motor function and reduced neurological deficits compared to the control group. By day 14, the DSIP-treated rats showed a 45% reduction in their modified neurological severity score (mNSS) compared to controls (p<0.001), indicating substantial neurological recovery. Rotarod performance, a measure of motor coordination and balance, increased by 62% in the DSIP group by day 21 (p<0.005), demonstrating enhanced motor skill acquisition. The most striking finding was a 2.8-fold increase in forelimb grip strength in DSIP-treated animals compared to saline controls by day 28 (p<0.001), suggesting robust recovery of motor power. Furthermore, histological analysis revealed a 30% reduction in infarct volume in the DSIP group (p<0.01), correlating with the observed functional improvements.