Behavioral Tests in Experiment 1.

MSCs were injected intravenously at 1 h (MSC 1-hour group, n = 7), 1 day (MSC 1-day group, n = 7), or 3 days (MSC 3-day group, n = 7) after MCAO. The control group received normal saline after MCAO (n = 8). Behavioral tests were performed using the rotarod test (A) and by measuring the Longa scores (B) before MCAO and at 1, 4, and 7 days after MCAO. At 7 days after MCAO, the results of the rotarod test showed significant functional recovery in the rats treated with MSCs at 1 h. The Longa scores were also more favorable in the MSC 1-hour group than in the control group (*P < 0.05).