Effects of Intensive sensorimotor training following experimental cerebral palsy assessed by advanced diffusion MRI

Injury to the developing brain is a major cause of Cerebral Palsy (CP) leading to motor and cognitive disabilities. HABIT-ILE is a 2-week intensive sensorimotor rehabilitation program with proven effects decreasing motor impairments in infants with CP. Here, we combined early environmental enrichment (EE) and treadmill motor training (TT) to model HABIT-ILE (EETT) for treating experimental CP in rats assessing then histological and microstructural parameters (diffusion MRI at 9.4T). Exvivo DTI/NODDI showed altered brain microstructure in CP rats not reversed by HABIT-ILE. HABIT-ILE modulated BDNF signaling and decreased the over-expression of proteins involved in excitatory function induced by CP.