title: Two distinct populations of doublecortin-positive cells in the perilesional zone of cortical infarcts.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recovery following stroke depends on cellular plasticity in the perilesional zone (PZ). Doublecortin (DCX), a protein mainly labeling immature neurons in neurogenic niches is also highly expressed in the vicinity of focal cortical infarcts. Notably, the number of DCX+ cells positively correlates with the recovery of functional deficits after stroke though the nature and origin of these cells remains unclear.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the present study, we aimed to characterize the population of DCX+ cells in the vicinity of ischemic infarcts in a mouse model in detail. Employing a photothrombosis model, distinct immunohistochemical techniques, stereology and confocal microscopy, we show that: i) DCX+ cells in the perilesional zone do not constitute a homogenous population and two cell types, stellate and polar cells can be distinguished according to their morphology. ii) Stellate cells are mainly located in the lateral and medial vicinity of the insult and express astrocytic markers. iii) Polar cells are found almost exclusively in the corpus callosum region including in the preserved deep cortical layers close to the subventricular zone (SVZ). Further, they do not show any colocalisation of glial markers. Polar morphology and distribution suggest a migration towards the lesion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In summary, our findings provide evidence that in mice DCX+ cells in the perilesional zone of cortical infarcts comprise a distinct cell population and the majority of cells are of glial nature.
authors.affiliation: Hans Berger Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, Erlanger Allee 101, D-07747, Jena, Germany. albrecht.kunze@med.uni-jena.de.
authors.forename: Albrecht
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kunze
authors.affiliation: Hans Berger Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, Erlanger Allee 101, D-07747, Jena, Germany. alexandra.achilles@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Achilles
authors.affiliation: Hans Berger Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, Erlanger Allee 101, D-07747, Jena, Germany. silke.keiner@med.uni-jena.de.
authors.forename: Silke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Keiner
authors.affiliation: Hans Berger Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, Erlanger Allee 101, D-07747, Jena, Germany. otto.witte@med.uni-jena.de.|Center for Sepsis Control and Care, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany. otto.witte@med.uni-jena.de.
authors.forename: Otto W
authors.initials: OW
authors.lastname: Witte
authors.affiliation: Hans Berger Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, Erlanger Allee 101, D-07747, Jena, Germany. christoph.redecker@med.uni-jena.de.
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Redecker
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003337:Corpus Callosum / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018450:Disease Progression; D000089622:Doublecortin Domain Proteins; D000089662:Doublecortin Protein; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000378:metabolism*; D066191:Sensorimotor Cortex / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D055153:Stem Cell Niche / Q000502:physiology; D020521:Stroke / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: C000714847:Dcx protein, mouse; D000089622:Doublecortin Domain Proteins; D000089662:Doublecortin Protein; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D009479:Neuropeptides