title: Regulatory effect of Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO) on astrocytic reactivity in a murine model of cerebral infarction by arterial embolization.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The pathophysiology of cerebral ischemia is essential for early diagnosis, neurologic recovery, the early onset of drug treatment and the prognosis of ischemic events. Experimental models of cerebral ischemia can be used to evaluate the cellular response phenomena and possible neurological protection by drugs.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To characterize the cellular changes in the neuronal population and astrocytic response by the effect of Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO) on a model of ischemia caused by cerebral embolism.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty Wistar rats were divided into four groups (n= 5). The infarct was induced with α-bovine thrombin (40 NIH/Unit.). The treated group received 90 mg (100 μL) of DMSO in saline (1:1 v/v) intraperitoneally for 5 days; ischemic controls received only NaCl (placebo) and two non-ischemic groups (simulated) received NaCl and DMSO respectively. We evaluated the neuronal (anti-NeuN) and astrocytic immune-reactivity (anti-GFAP). The results were analyzed by densitometry (NIH Image J-Fiji 1.45 software) and analysis of variance (ANOVA) with the Graph pad software (Prism 5).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cerebral embolism induced reproducible and reliable lesions in the cortex and hippocampus (CA1)., similar to those of focal models. DMSO did not reverse the loss of post-ischemia neuronal immune-reactivity, but prevented the morphological damage of neurons, and significantly reduced astrocytic hyperactivity in the somato-sensory cortex and CA1 (p <0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The regulatory effect of DMSO on astrocyte hyperreactivity and neuronal-astroglial cytoarchitecture , gives it potential neuroprotective properties for the treatment of thromboembolic cerebral ischemia in the acute phase.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Health-Faculty of Veterinary Medicine & Zootecnia Universidad del Tolima, E-mail: catalinalapuente@yahoo.com ; Departament of Biology Science Faculty Universidad del Tolima, E-mail: carlosa_rengifo@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Catalina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lapuente Chala
authors.affiliation: Pathology Department of Animal Health - Faculty of Veterinary Medicine & Zootecnia Universidad del Tolima, E-mail: carlosa_rengifo@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Carlos Augusto
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Rengifo Valbuena
authors.affiliation: Departament of Biology Science Faculty Universidad del Tolima, E-mail: carlosa_rengifo@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Marco Fidel
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Avila Rodríguez
authors.affiliation: Toxicology Laboratory. Department of Animal Health Medical Faculty Veterinary Medicine & Zootecnia Universidad del Tolima, E-mail: aecesped@ut.edu.co ; Department of Animal Health-Faculty of Veterinary Medicine & Zootecnia Universidad del Tolima, E-mail: catalinalapuente@yahoo.com ; Group for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases.
authors.forename: Angel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Céspedes Rubio
keywords: Brain cerebral ischemia; astrocytes; dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO); immunohistochemistry; neuroglia gliosis