Enhanced Neocortical Neural Sprouting, Synaptogenesis, and Behavioral Recovery With<scp>d</scp>-Amphetamine Therapy After Neocortical Infarction in Rats

Abstract

These data support the occurrence of neurite growth followed by synaptogenesis in the neocortex in a pattern that corresponds both spatially and temporally with behavioral recovery that is accelerated by D-amphetamine treatment. While the specific mechanisms responsible for D-amphetamine-promoted expression of proteins involved in neurite growth and synaptogenesis and of enhanced behavioral recovery are not known, it is suggested that protein upregulation occurs as a result of functional activation of pathways able to remodel in response to active behavioral performance.