title: Deficiency of NG2+ cells contributes to the susceptibility of stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study is to investigate whether the NG2(+) cells, a class of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells, is involved in the pathophysiology of stroke in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR-SP).
  
  
  METHODS
  SHR-SP, SHR, Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY), and C57BJ/6 mice were used. Immunohistochemistry was conducted to evaluate the number of NG2(+) cells in frozen brain sections. Demyelination was evaluated by Sudan black staining and serum level of myelin basic protein. Middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) was performed to prepare experimental stroke model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The number of NG2(+) cells was significantly decreased in infarct core and increased in penumbra in WKY rats after MCAO. In brain sections of 6-month-old SHR-SP, the number of NG2(+) cells was significantly (P < 0.01) less than that in age-matched SHR and WKY rats. However, this phenomenon was not observed in 3-month-old rats. Demyelination was found in 6-month-old SHR-SP but not in 3-month-old SHR-SP. Pharmacological treatment of cuprizone in mice induced demyelination and enlargement of cerebral infarction after MCAO.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The decline of NG2(+) cells may cause demyelination and contribute to the susceptibility of SHR-SP to ischemic brain injury.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Pei
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Wei-Wei
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Yun-Feng
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Guan
authors.forename: Chao-Yu
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Miao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000941:Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis; D002452:Cell Count / Q000379:methods; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D006973:Hypertension / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009836:Oligodendroglia / Q000473:pathology*; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000172:deficiency*; D051381:Rats; D011918:Rats, Inbred SHR; D011921:Rats, Inbred WKY; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D020521:Stroke / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D000099216:Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycan 4
chemical_list: D000941:Antigens; D011509:Proteoglycans; D000099216:Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycan 4