Effects of long-term delayed magnesium chloride treatment on the recovery of sensorimotor behaviors in the rat

Abstract

The goal of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of magnesium chloride on inducing recovery of function using a model of chronic sensorimotor behavioral deficits in rats. A regimen of magnesium chloride (1 mMol/kg) was injected daily for 30 days and administered either early (Day 1) or late (Day 31 or Day 61) following cortical injury. Recovery of function was assessed for 100 days using behavioral tests sensitive to unilateral sensorimotor cortex injury. The data indicate that magnesium chloride administered early after cortical injury can permanently restore partial sensorimotor functions. In contrast, delayed treatments with magnesium chloride induce a partial, yet transient, restoration of behavioral function dependent on the period of drug administration. The findings suggest that magnesium chloride has significant promise as an effective agent in the treatment of traumatic brain injury.