2.5 Neurobehavioral assessment
The Zea-Longa score was used to assess the neurobehavior of the rats by
an uninformed observer of each group (Longa et al., 1989). 0 point: The
rat’s activity was normal and there were no symptoms of nerve damage. 1
point: the rat did not fully extend the anterior paw of the opposite
side of cerebral ischemia when the tail was lifted (mild). 2 points: The
rats walked in a circle to the opposite side of cerebral ischemia
(moderate). 3 points: falling to the opposite side of cerebral ischemia
while walking (severe). 4 points: the rats lost consciousness and could
not walk.