Quercetin promotes behavioral recovery and biomolecular changes of melanocortin-4 receptor in mice with ischemic stroke

Ischemic stroke is known as a common causes of disability, lower psychological well-being as well as preventable death. The pathogenesis of ischemic stroke process becomes worse immediately after oxidative stress occurs. One of the flavonoids with antioxidant abilities is quercetin. This study was aimed to investigate quercetin administration on the behavioral functions (motor and sensory) and expression of melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) in mice with ischemic stroke. Male ICR mice were divided into sham, stroke, stroke with quercetin 100, 150, and 200 mg/kg. The stroke model was performed by blocking the left common carotid artery for 2 h. Quercetin was intraperitoneally administered daily for seven days. Evaluation was conducted during two weeks after induction using ladder rung walking test and narrow beam test for motoric function and adhesive removal tape test for sensory function. On day-14 mice were sacrificed, MC4R expression in the dorsal striatum was determined using RT-PCR. Stroke decreased the motor, sensory function and MC4R mRNA expression in dorsal striatum. Quercetin improved motor and sensory function, and upregulated expression of MC4R. Quercetin administration after ischemic stroke improves behavioral function, possibly through the upregulation of MC4R in the brain.