AAV-mVEGF-C promotes functional recovery in response to stroke. (A) Overview of the experimental procedure: mice received an ICM injection of AAV-VEGF-C or AAV-CTRL and underwent tMCAO 4 wk afterward. Animals were evaluated using MRI and behavioral tests at 3 d- and 7 d-pso. (B–D) Functional analysis of tMCAO mice injected with AAV-VEGF-C and AAV-CTRL. Quantification was performed at the indicated time points. Quantifications of the neurological score (B) and corner test evaluation (C) at 3 d- and 7 d-pso. No difference (% percentage) of left turns (impaired side) between AAV-VEGF-C (day 3: 36 ± 8; day 7: 37 ± 8) and AAV-CTRL (day 3: 19 ± 8; day 7: 17 ± 9. n = 10–13 mice/group; P = 0.21). Hanging wire test (D) (n = 10–13 mice/group; *P < 0.05; two-way ANOVA followed by Bonferroni’s multiple comparisons). (E–G) MRI scans. (E) Representative images of MRI anatomical T2 weighted scans showing the infarct lesion induced by tMCAO in AAV-CTRL and AAV-mVEGF-C mice. (F) Quantification of the lesion volume at 3 d- and 7 d-pso. (*P < 0.05; Wilcoxon test). (G) Volumetric quantification of the ipsilateral and contralateral cerebral hemispheres. (n = 6–7 animals/group; Wilcoxon test). MRI scale bar: 400 µm.