[Study on changes of neuron apoptosis after focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion in the aged rats].
OBJECTIVE
To study ultrastructured change and neuron apoptosis after focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) in the aged rats.


METHODS
The aged SD rats (20-21 months) and the young (4-5 months) were subjected to 3 hours of middle cerebral artery occulsion with the intraluminal filament technique, followed by reperfusion for 3 hours, 6 hours, 12 hours, 24 hours, 72 hours. The ultrastructure of brain, infarct zone and neuron apoptosis were observed.


RESULTS
The cerebral infarct zone increased in the aged rats with ischemia for 3 hours and I/R for 12 hours compared with those in the young. The brain injury was obviously deteriorated with I/R time longer, which was serious in the aged than that in the young. The neuron apoptosis increase with I/R time longer, and showed earlier and lasted longer in the aged.


CONCLUSIONS
The cerebral injury is serious and neuron apoptosis increase shows early and lasts longer.
Li
Jian-sheng
JS
Geriatrics Department of Henan College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450003, Henan, China.
Ren
Xiao-qiao
XQ
Liu
Ke
K
Liu
Zheng-guo
ZG
Kong
Ling-fei
LF
D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000473:pathology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000503:physiopathology*