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Vascular changes in the subventricular zone after distal cortical lesions
Jeffrey E Gotts1, Marie-Françoise Chesselet
1Department of Neurology, Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, 710 Westwood Plaza, RNRC B114, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
Experimental Neurology
|May 19, 2005
Summary
Cortical lesions trigger changes in blood vessels within the subventricular zone (SVZ), a brain region distant from the injury. These vascular modifications correlate with increased cell proliferation in the SVZ, suggesting a role in brain repair after injury.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Vascular Biology
- Regenerative Medicine
Background:
- Cortical lesions stimulate cell proliferation in the adult brain's subventricular zone (SVZ).
- The underlying mechanisms connecting distant lesions to SVZ responses remain unclear.
- Emerging evidence suggests a link between vascular systems and neurogenesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if cortical lesions induce vascular modifications in the distal SVZ.
- To explore the role of vasculature in lesion-induced neurogenesis.
Main Methods:
- Induction of frontoparietal cortical lesions via thermocoagulation of pial blood vessels in vivo.
- Assessment of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) immunoreactivity.
- Measurement of vascular permeability in the SVZ and rostral migratory stream (RMS).
- Quantification of endothelial proliferation and vascular tree expansion.
Main Results:
- Cortical lesions increased VEGF immunoreactivity around SVZ vessels.
- Marked increases in vascular permeability were observed in the SVZ and RMS.
- Significant endothelial proliferation and vascular tree expansion occurred in the SVZ.
- A strong correlation was found between increased blood vessel number and SVZ cell proliferation.
Conclusions:
- Thermocoagulatory cortical lesions induce significant vascular changes in the distal SVZ.
- These distal vascular modifications may play a crucial role in lesion-induced SVZ expansion and neurogenesis.
- The study highlights a potential pathway for therapeutic interventions targeting brain repair.