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Abstract
Decreasing ischemic stroke induced neurological deficits and disability is an imperative and necessary objective of stroke therapy. In order to abate the induced motor deficits, it is vital to optimize a translatable animal model, verify functional assessments, and to create a novel regenerative therapy. Our group utilized the porcine MCAO stroke model measuring the functional deficits and recovery after administration of the NPEX, neural stem cell derived exosomes, via gait analysis. Gait analysis was conducted pre-MCAO surgery, and subsequently on 1, 3, 7, 14, 28, 57, and 84 days post stroke by measuring relevant temporo-spatial parameters. The NPEX therapy was administered post stroke at 2, 14, and 24 hours acting. It was found that recovery in the NPEX treated pigs was seen by week one in stride frequency, step length, stride length, swing and stance percent, paw print area, hind reach, and the vertical reaction force. NPEX displayed a significant benefit at week 4-post surgery as compared to the vehicle treatment. In conclusion, quantitative gait analysis is a sensitive approach to measuring neurological deficits and recovery in a porcine model post middle cerebral artery occlusion stroke. Additionally, NPEX treatment administered to the pigs displays an efficient recovery by one-week post stroke as seen in a multitude of temporo-spatial parameters.