Long course hyperbaric oxygen stimulates neurogenesis and attenuates inflammation after ischemic stroke

Spontaneous recovery at the same time so impossible to tell what caused the results. Double blind trials needed.
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Abstract
Several studies have provided evidence with regards to the neuroprotection benefits of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy in cases of stroke. HBO also promotes bone marrow stem cells (BMSCs) proliferation and mobilization. This study investigates the influence of HBO therapy on the migration of BMSCs, neurogenesis, gliosis, and inflammation after transient ischemic stroke. Rats that sustained one hour of transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) were treated with HBO 15 times within 3 weeks or HBO two times within two days. The results were examined using a behavior test (modified neurological severity score, mNSS) and immunohistochemistry staining on CD34-DAPI, BrdU-NeuN, BrdU-GFAP were used to evaluate the effects of HBO therapy on migration of bone marrow stem cells, neurogenesis and gliosis, as well as expression of neurotrophic factors were also evaluated. HBO significantly attenuated ischemic injury of transient MCAO. There was a lower mNSS score in the three weeks HBO group (6.2 in day 21), when compared with the two days HBO group (9.75 in day 21). This demonstrated that 3 weeks of HBO treatment had a significantly better neurological outcome than a two days HBO course, suggesting the dose-dependent effect of HBO therapy. Mobilization of BMSCs to an ischemic area was more improved in long course HBO treatments but not by short course treatments, suggesting that the duration of therapy is crucial for promoting the homing of BMSCs to ischemic brain by HBO therapies. HBO also can stimulate expression of trophic factors and improve neurogenesis and gliosis. These effects may help neuronal repair after ischemic stroke and increasing the course of HBO therapy from 2 days to 3 weeks might enhance therapeutic effects on ischemic stroke.