Radial glia marker expression following experimental intracerebral hemorrhage

In this study, we examine 3CB2 expression, a marker of radial glia, after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats received an intracaudate injection of 100 microL autologous whole blood. Animals were sacrificed, and 3CB2 expression was quantified on Western blot. Single and double labeled immunohistochemistry was used to identify which cells express 3CB2. Neurobehavioral examinations (forelimb placing test) were perfomed as an evaluation of function. By Western blot, 3CB2 was strongly expressed at day 3 and expression persisted for at least 1 month. By immunohistochemistry, 3CB2 immunoreactivity was present in large numbers of astrocytes surrounding the hematoma at day 3 after ICH. At 1 month later, 3CB2 immunoreactivity was co-localized with a neuronal marker (TUC-4). Neurobehavioral function in the 1 month after ICH group was significantly improved compared with that of 3 days after ICH. The ICH-induced 3CB2 expression in astrocytes may reflect an early response of these cells to injury, while the delayed expression in neurons might be a part of the adaptative response to injury, perhaps leading to recovery of neurobehavioral function.