title: Long-term remodeling of rat pial microcirculation after transient middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to assess the in vivo structural and functional remodeling of pial arteriolar networks in the ischemic area of rats submitted to transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) and different time intervals of reperfusion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two closed cranial windows were implanted above the left and right parietal cortex to observe pial microcirculation by fluorescence microscopy. The geometric characteristics of pial arteriolar networks, permeability increase, leukocyte adhesion and capillary density were analyzed after 1 h or 1, 7, 14 or 28 days of reperfusion. MCAO and 1-hour reperfusion caused marked microvascular changes in pial networks. The necrotic core was devoid of vessels, while the penumbra area presented a few arterioles, capillaries and venules with severe neuronal damage. Penumbra microvascular permeability and leukocyte adhesion were pronounced. At 7 days of reperfusion, new pial arterioles were organized in anastomotic vessels, overlapping the ischemic core and in penetrating pial arterioles. Vascular remodeling caused different arteriolar rearrangement up to 28 days of reperfusion and animals gradually regained their motor and sensory functions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Transient MCAO-induced pial-network remodeling is characterized by arteriolar anastomotic arcades. Remodeling mechanisms appear to be accompanied by an increased expression of nitric oxide synthases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, 'Federico II' University Medical School, Naples, Italy. d.lapi@dfb.unipi.it
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lapi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vagnani
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sapio
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mastantuono
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sabatino
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Paterni
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Colantuoni
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001160:Arterioles / Q000503:physiopathology; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D002196:Capillaries / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002199:Capillary Permeability; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D020244:Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D018715:Microscopy, Video; D009043:Motor Activity; D009336:Necrosis; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I / Q000378:metabolism; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation; D010841:Pia Mater / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D020127:Recovery of Function; D015424:Reperfusion; D012677:Sensation; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C467498:vascular endothelial growth factor A, rat; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; C496322:Nos1 protein, rat; C496316:Nos3 protein, rat; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases