{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,1]],"date-time":"2026-09-01T21:55:08Z","timestamp":1788299708441,"version":"build-2803163510"},"reference-count":44,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,13]],"date-time":"2026-08-13T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1786579200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Neurol."],"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Previous studies about post-stroke peripheral structural remodeling have been focused on muscle fiber alterations, while extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling in musculoskeletal tissues remains unclear. This study examines changes in extracellular matrix (ECM), specifically hyaluronan (HA) and collagen, in forelimb muscles following distal middle cerebral artery occlusion (dMCAO) in mice.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      Twenty-two 8-week-old C57BL\/6 mice (10 male, 12 female) were randomly assigned to the control group (\n                      <jats:italic>n<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u202f=\u202f10; 4 male, 6 female) or the experimental group (\n                      <jats:italic>n<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u202f=\u202f12; 6 male, 6 female). 4\u202fweeks post-stroke, forelimb muscle samples were collected and analyzed for HA and collagen distribution and concentrations.\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      HA concentrations were significantly elevated in both the left (stroke affected) forelimb muscles (63.74\u202f\u00b1\u202f11.80\u202f\u03bcg\/g), and right (unaffected) forelimb muscles (64.16\u202f\u00b1\u202f13.52\u202f\u03bcg\/g) of stroke mice compared to the controls (left: 50.07\u202f\u00b1\u202f8.84\u202f\u03bcg\/g,\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u202f=\u202f0.022; and right: 49.36\u202f\u00b1\u202f12.22\u202f\u03bcg\/g,\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u202f=\u202f0.015). No significant difference in HA levels was observed between the affected and unaffected sides of stroke mice (\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u202f=\u202f0.905). Collagen concentrations did not differ significantly among groups (control left: 8.62\u202f\u00b1\u202f2.91\u202f\u03bcg\/g; control right: 8.77\u202f\u00b1\u202f1.35\u202f\u03bcg\/g; stroke-affected: 8.24\u202f\u00b1\u202f2.11\u202f\u03bcg\/g; stroke-unaffected: 8.28\u202f\u00b1\u202f2.45\u202f\u03bcg\/g).\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>The results revealed a systemic increase in HA concentration in the stroke group, while collagen levels remained unchanged. These findings provide biochemical evidence of early alterations in extracellular matrix composition after stroke.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fneur.2026.1824344","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,13]],"date-time":"2026-08-13T05:32:53Z","timestamp":1786599173000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["The impact of stroke on intramuscular connective tissue in mice"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"17","author":[{"given":"Xiaoxiao","family":"Zhao","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Neurosciences, Institute of Human Anatomy, University of Padova","place":["Padova, Italy"]},{"name":"Padova Neuroscience Center (PNC), University of Padova","place":["Padova, Italy"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Giulio","family":"Morri","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Padova Neuroscience Center (PNC), University of Padova","place":["Padova, Italy"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Matteo","family":"D\u2019Urso","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Padova Neuroscience Center (PNC), University of Padova","place":["Padova, Italy"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Caterina","family":"Fede","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Neurosciences, Institute of Human Anatomy, University of Padova","place":["Padova, Italy"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Lucia","family":"Petrelli","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Neurosciences, Institute of Human Anatomy, University of Padova","place":["Padova, Italy"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Livia","family":"Vignozzi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council (CNR)","place":["Padova, Italy"]},{"name":"Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova","place":["Padova, Italy"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Yunfeng","family":"Sun","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Neurosciences, Institute of Human Anatomy, University of Padova","place":["Padova, Italy"]},{"name":"Padova Neuroscience Center (PNC), University of Padova","place":["Padova, Italy"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Claudia","family":"Clair","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Neurosciences, Institute of Human Anatomy, University of Padova","place":["Padova, Italy"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Gabriele","family":"Deidda","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Padova Neuroscience Center (PNC), University of Padova","place":["Padova, Italy"]},{"name":"Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova","place":["Padova, Italy"]},{"name":"Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London Malta Campus","place":["Victoria, Malta"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Preeti","family":"Raghavan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine","place":["Baltimore, MD, United States"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Manuela","family":"Allegra","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Padova Neuroscience Center (PNC), University of Padova","place":["Padova, Italy"]},{"name":"Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council (CNR)","place":["Padova, Italy"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Carla","family":"Stecco","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Neurosciences, Institute of Human Anatomy, University of Padova","place":["Padova, Italy"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,13]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"208","DOI":"10.1055\/s-0038-1649503","article-title":"Global burden of stroke","volume":"38","author":"Katan","year":"2018","journal-title":"Semin Neurol"},{"key":"ref2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"741","DOI":"10.1016\/S1474-4422(09)70150-4","article-title":"Motor recovery after stroke: a systematic review","volume":"8","author":"Langhorne","year":"2009","journal-title":"Lancet Neurol"},{"key":"ref3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"CD010820","DOI":"10.1002\/14651858.CD010820.pub2","article-title":"Interventions for improving upper limb function after stroke","volume":"2014","author":"Pollock","year":"2014","journal-title":"Cochrane Database Syst Rev"},{"key":"ref4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1433","DOI":"10.3390\/healthcare12141433","article-title":"Recommendations for upper limb motor recovery: an overview of the UK and European rehabilitation after stroke guidelines (2023)","volume":"12","author":"O\u2019Flaherty","year":"2023","journal-title":"Healthcare"},{"key":"ref5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2819","DOI":"10.1161\/STROKEAHA.112.654228","article-title":"Modulation of neural plasticity as a basis for stroke rehabilitation","volume":"43","author":"Pekna","year":"2012","journal-title":"Stroke"},{"key":"ref6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"4425","DOI":"10.1097\/MS9.0000000000001137","article-title":"Exploring the transformative influence of neuroplasticity on stroke rehabilitation: a narrative review of current evidence","volume":"85","author":"Aderinto","year":"2023","journal-title":"Ann Med Surg (Lond)"},{"key":"ref7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"76","DOI":"10.3389\/fncel.2017.00076","article-title":"Neuroplastic changes following brain ischemia and their contribution to stroke recovery: novel approaches in neurorehabilitation","volume":"11","author":"Alia","year":"2017","journal-title":"Front Cell Neurosci"},{"key":"ref8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"180","DOI":"10.1016\/j.neuroscience.2015.10.029","article-title":"Rehabilitation and plasticity following stroke: insights from rodent models","volume":"311","author":"Caleo","year":"2015","journal-title":"Neuroscience"},{"key":"ref9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"jrm00308","DOI":"10.2340\/jrm.v54.573","article-title":"Skeletal muscle changes in the first three months of stroke recovery: a systematic review","volume":"54","author":"Beckw\u00e9e","year":"2022","journal-title":"J Rehabil Med"},{"key":"ref10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"73","DOI":"10.1080\/10749357.2018.1517511","article-title":"Structural muscular adaptations in upper limb after stroke: a systematic review","volume":"26","author":"Faturi","year":"2019","journal-title":"Top Stroke Rehabil"},{"key":"ref11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"474","DOI":"10.23736\/S1973-9087.23.07844-9","article-title":"Structural and pathophysiological muscle changes up to one year after post-stroke hemiplegia: a systematic review","volume":"59","author":"Oscar","year":"2023","journal-title":"Eur J Phys Rehabil Med"},{"key":"ref12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"381","DOI":"10.3389\/fnhum.2014.00381","article-title":"Finding an optimal rehabilitation paradigm after stroke: enhancing fiber growth and training of the brain at the right moment","volume":"8","author":"Wahl","year":"2014","journal-title":"Front Hum Neurosci"},{"key":"ref13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1022","DOI":"10.1109\/TNSRE.2020.2972206","article-title":"In-vivo study of passive musculotendon mechanics in chronic hemispheric stroke survivors","volume":"28","author":"Chardon","year":"2020","journal-title":"IEEE Trans Neural Syst Rehabil Eng"},{"key":"ref14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"93","DOI":"10.1016\/j.clinbiomech.2016.03.012","article-title":"Estimation of tissue stiffness, reflex activity, optimal muscle length and slack length in stroke patients using an electromyography driven antagonistic wrist model","volume":"35","author":"de Gooijer-van de Groep","year":"2016","journal-title":"Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon)"},{"key":"ref15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"198","DOI":"10.1016\/j.medengphy.2017.06.023","article-title":"Neural and non-neural related properties in the spastic wrist flexors: an optimization study","volume":"47","author":"Wang","year":"2017","journal-title":"Med Eng Phys"},{"key":"ref16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"617","DOI":"10.1177\/1545968311403494","article-title":"Validation of a new biomechanical model to measure muscle tone in spastic muscles","volume":"25","author":"Lindberg","year":"2011","journal-title":"Neurorehabil Neural Repair"},{"key":"ref17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"121","DOI":"10.1007\/s40141-014-0052-3","article-title":"Peripheral mechanisms contributing to spasticity and implications for treatment","volume":"2","author":"Stecco","year":"2014","journal-title":"Curr Phys Med Rehabil Rep"},{"key":"ref18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"495","DOI":"10.3389\/fphys.2020.00495","article-title":"The structure and role of intramuscular connective tissue in muscle function","volume":"11","author":"Purslow","year":"2020","journal-title":"Front Physiol"},{"key":"ref19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"318","DOI":"10.1002\/mus.22094","article-title":"Structure and function of the skeletal muscle extracellular matrix","volume":"44","author":"Gillies","year":"2011","journal-title":"Muscle Nerve"},{"key":"ref20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2041731414557112","DOI":"10.1177\/2041731414557112","article-title":"The extracellular matrix: structure, composition, age-related differences, tools for analysis and applications for tissue engineering","volume":"5","author":"Kular","year":"2014","journal-title":"J Tissue Eng"},{"key":"ref21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"a004978","DOI":"10.1101\/cshperspect.a004978","article-title":"The collagen family","volume":"3","author":"Ricard-Blum","year":"2011","journal-title":"Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol"},{"key":"ref22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1823","DOI":"10.1091\/mbc.E19-12-0709","article-title":"Collagen, stiffness, and adhesion: the evolutionary basis of vertebrate mechanobiology","volume":"31","author":"Tang","year":"2020","journal-title":"Mol Biol Cell"},{"key":"ref23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1016\/j.matbio.2019.02.002","article-title":"Hyaluronan biology: a complex balancing act of structure, function, location and context","author":"Garantziotis","year":"2019","journal-title":"Matrix Biol"},{"key":"ref24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"13","DOI":"10.3390\/ijms22136845","article-title":"Hyaluronan and the fascial frontier","volume":"22","author":"Pratt","year":"2021","journal-title":"Int J Mol Sci"},{"key":"ref25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"622","DOI":"10.12688\/f1000research.6885.1","article-title":"Viscoelastic properties of hyaluronan in physiological conditions","volume":"4","author":"Cowman","year":"2015","journal-title":"F1000Res"},{"key":"ref26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e51729","DOI":"10.3791\/51729-v","article-title":"Modeling stroke in mice: permanent coagulation of the distal middle cerebral artery","volume":"89","author":"Llovera","year":"2014","journal-title":"J Vis Exp"},{"key":"ref27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"25176","DOI":"10.1038\/srep25176","article-title":"Reversal of the detrimental effects of post-stroke social isolation by pair-housing is mediated by activation of BDNF-MAPK\/ERK in aged mice","volume":"6","author":"Verma","year":"2016","journal-title":"Sci Rep"},{"key":"ref28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"S14604","DOI":"10.1117\/1.NPh.12.S1.S14604","article-title":"Early changes in spatiotemporal dynamics of remapped circuits and global networks predict functional recovery after stroke in mice","volume":"12","author":"Bowen","year":"2025","journal-title":"Neurophotonics"},{"key":"ref29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"026108","DOI":"10.1063\/5.0263191","article-title":"Post-stroke spontaneous motor recovery in mice can be predicted from acute-phase local field potential using machine learning","volume":"9","author":"Meneghetti","year":"2025","journal-title":"APL Bioeng"},{"key":"ref30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"11061","DOI":"10.3390\/ijms231911061","article-title":"The effects of aging on the intramuscular connective tissue","volume":"23","author":"Fede","year":"2022","journal-title":"Int J Mol Sci"},{"key":"ref31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"552","DOI":"10.1111\/joa.12866","article-title":"Quantification of hyaluronan in human fasciae: variations with function and anatomical site","volume":"233","author":"Fede","year":"2018","journal-title":"J Anat"},{"key":"ref32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"8945","DOI":"10.3390\/ijms25168945","article-title":"The impact of sciatic nerve injury on extracellular matrix of lower limb muscle and thoracolumbar fascia: an observational study","volume":"25","author":"Zhao","year":"2024","journal-title":"Int J Mol Sci"},{"key":"ref33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"6865","DOI":"10.3390\/ijms25136865","article-title":"Biochemical and histological differences between longitudinal and vertical fibres of Dupuytren\u2019s palmar aponeurosis and innovative clinical implications","volume":"25","author":"Fede","year":"2024","journal-title":"Int J Mol Sci"},{"key":"ref34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"447","DOI":"10.1007\/BF01002772","article-title":"Picrosirius staining plus polarization microscopy, a specific method for collagen detection in tissue sections","volume":"11","author":"Junqueira","year":"1979","journal-title":"Histochem J"},{"key":"ref35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"623","DOI":"10.1042\/bj2420623","article-title":"Nomenclature of hyaluronic acid","volume":"242","author":"Singla","year":"1987","journal-title":"Biochem J"},{"key":"ref36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"891","DOI":"10.1007\/s00276-011-0876-9","article-title":"Hyaluronan within fascia in the etiology of myofascial pain","volume":"33","author":"Stecco","year":"2011","journal-title":"Surg Radiol Anat"},{"key":"ref37","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"89","DOI":"10.1054\/jhsb.2000.0546","article-title":"The histochemical structure of the deep fascia and its structural response to surgery","volume":"26","author":"McCombe","year":"2001","journal-title":"J Hand Surg Br"},{"key":"ref38","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"14513","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-019-50715-x","article-title":"Quantifying muscle glycosaminoglycan levels in patients with post-stroke muscle stiffness using T(1\u03c1) MRI","volume":"9","author":"Menon","year":"2019","journal-title":"Sci Rep"},{"key":"ref39","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1490","DOI":"10.1002\/pmrj.12771","article-title":"Hyaluronan homeostasis and its role in pain and muscle stiffness","volume":"14","author":"Amir","year":"2022","journal-title":"PM R"},{"key":"ref40","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"352","DOI":"10.1007\/s11916-013-0352-9","article-title":"Fascial components of the myofascial pain syndrome","volume":"17","author":"Stecco","year":"2013","journal-title":"Curr Pain Headache Rep"},{"key":"ref41","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"61","DOI":"10.1007\/s10237-019-01196-4","article-title":"Mechanical and microstructural changes of skeletal muscle following immobilization and\/or stroke","volume":"19","author":"Jalal","year":"2020","journal-title":"Biomech Model Mechanobiol"},{"key":"ref42","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"C241","DOI":"10.1152\/ajpcell.00173.2013","article-title":"Cellular mechanisms of tissue fibrosis. 4. Structural and functional consequences of skeletal muscle fibrosis","volume":"305","author":"Lieber","year":"2013","journal-title":"Am J Physiol Cell Physiol"},{"key":"ref43","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2606","DOI":"10.3390\/diagnostics14222606","article-title":"Ultrasound imaging comparison of crural fascia thickness and muscle stiffness in stroke patients with spasticity","volume":"14","author":"Choi","year":"2024","journal-title":"Diagnostics"},{"key":"ref44","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"6352","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-023-33479-3","article-title":"Three-dimensional fine structures in deep fascia revealed by combined use of cryo-fixed histochemistry and low-vacuum scanning microscopy","volume":"13","author":"Imazato","year":"2023","journal-title":"Sci Rep"}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Neurology"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fneur.2026.1824344\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,13]],"date-time":"2026-08-13T05:32:54Z","timestamp":1786599174000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fneur.2026.1824344\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,13]]},"references-count":44,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fneur.2026.1824344"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fneur.2026.1824344","relation":{},"ISSN":["1664-2295"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1664-2295","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,13]]},"article-number":"1824344"}}