Table 3 Neuro-protective factors used in the treatment of stroke

Rat

MCAO

BDNF

Regulated neuronal survival, migration, differentiation and synaptic function; reduced infarct size

N.A.

[97]

Rat

MCAO

GDNF

Promoted neuronal survival; regulated migration and differentiation of several peripheral neurons

N.A.

[98–104]

Rat

MCAO

EPO

Promoted the differentiation and proliferation of erythroid progenitor cells; improved the survival of maturing cells; enhanced angiogenesis and neurogenesis

Improved neurological outcome on the foot fault and corner tests

[105, 106]

Rat

MCAO

EPO + hCG

Decreased the total infarct volume

Improved composite neurological score and forelimb placing behavioral outcome

[107]

Rat

PVD lesion of motor and sensory cortex

EPO + EGF

Promoted migration of SVZ NPCs to infarct sizes; differentiated into neurons and astrocytes; enhanced cortical regeneration

Showed improvement in cylinder test and swimming task

[108]

Rat

MCAO

FGF2

Reduced infarct volume; improved neurobehavioral and histological outcomes; increased the number of SVZ newborn neurons

Acquired better symmetry of movement and forepaw outstretching in aged rats

[109]

Rat

MCAO

FGF2 + platelet-poor plasma (PPP) + platelet lysate (PLT)

Increased SVZ endogenous neural stem cells (eNSC) proliferation, angiogenesis, neurogenesis and neuroprotection

Functional outcome was significantly improved for the neurological severity score

[110]

Rat

MCAO

TGF-alpha

Regulated migration and differentiation of the newly generated neurons; enhanced neurogenesis

The asymmetric behavioral outcomes were improved in the corner test and the cylinder test.

[111]

Rat

MCAO

G-CSF

Reduced infarct volume

N.A.

[112]

Rat

MCAO

NGF

Reduced apoptotic cell death after ischemic injury

N.A.

[113]