title: Sequential neuronal and astrocytic changes after transient middle cerebral artery occlusion in the rat.
abstract: The temporal evolution and spatial distribution of ischemic cell injury was investigated after transient middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion. Male Wistar rats (n = 61) were subjected to 2 h of MCA occlusion induced by advancing a nylon monofilament into the right internal carotid artery. Animals were killed after different durations of reperfusion, ranging from 4 to 166 h (n = 6-11 for each group). Neuronal injury and astrocytic reaction were evaluated using hematoxylin and eosin (H & E) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) immunohistochemistry, respectively. Eosinophilic neurons were detected at 4 h of reperfusion in the basal ganglia, and at 10 h of reperfusion in the cortex. Focal brain infarct developed by 46 h of reperfusion, both in the cortex and the basal ganglia, and the volume remained constant between 46 and 166 h of reperfusion. Significant differences in astrocytic reaction were detected between the lesion and the periphery of the lesion at reperfusion times from 46 to 166 h; GFAP staining decreased in the core of the lesion and increased in the peripheral areas. Our data suggest that, after 2 h of MCA occlusion, brain tissue progresses from isolated neuronal injury to infarct with a time course dependent on anatomical site; and astrocytic reactivity, expressed by GFAP staining, reflects the outcome of the ischemic injury.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI 48202.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chopp
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Schultz
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bodzin
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Garcia
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D001479:Basal Ganglia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D001784:Blood Gas Analysis; D002536:Cerebral Arteries / Q000502:physiology*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D016612:Paraffin Embedding; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein