Temporal association between NRF2/HO-1 activation, endogenous BDNF up-regulation, and motor recovery in a male mouse MCAO model

NRF and BDNF are important factors involved in the response to ischemic injury Reports about NRF and BDNF are scarce, regarding the MCAO model Motor deficits were most severe on day 3 and showed gradual recovery by day 7. In the ischemic region, NRF2 expression peaked on day 3, whereas HO-1 and BDNF expression increased on days 7 and 14, coinciding with improved motor performance and increased neuronal preservation. These findings indicate that activation of the NRF2/HO-1 pathway is temporally associated with increased expression of endogenous BDNF and recovery of motor function following ischemic injury in male mice.