Effects of Pretreatment with a Combination of Melatonin and Electroacupuncture in a Rat Model of Transient Focal Cerebral Ischemia

Table 1

Neurological deficit scoring system (NDSS) test.

		Points
Motor tests	Spontaneous activity
	Approaches at least three sides of cage	0
	Approaches at least one rim but not all sides of cage	1
	Slight movement	2
	No movement	3
	Floor walking
	Straight path	0
	Curvilinear path	1
	Walks only in circles	2
	No walking	3
Sensorimotor tests	Raising rat by the tail
	Flexion of forelimb	1
	Flexion of hindlimb	1
	Thorax twisting	1
	Left limbs placing task
	Forelimb
	Normal performance	0
	Delayed (less than 2 seconds)	1
	Delayed (at least 5 seconds) and/or incomplete performance	2
	No performance	3
	Hindlimb
	Normal performance	0
	Delayed (less than 2 seconds)	1
	Delayed (at least 5 seconds) and/or incomplete performance	2
	No performance	3
Beam balance tests	Walks on the beam	0
	Grasps side of beam	1
	Hugs the beam and one limb falls down from the beam	2
	Hugs the beam and two limbs fall down from the beam or spins on beam (>60 s)	3
	Attempts to balance on the beam but falls off (>40 s)	4
	Attempts to balance on the beam but falls off (>20 s)	5
	Falls off: with no attempt to balance or hang on the beam (<20 s)	6

Maximal number of point is 21. Points were awarded for inability of performing the tasks. The higher the score, the more severe is the injury.