Experimental cerebral ischemia: the contribution of the Bethesda Group

Igor Klatzo started his research on cerebral ischemia at the NIH in the 1960s. The mechanism that produces the blood-brain barrier change after ischemia was a focus of interest in Klatzo's experiments, which used larger mammals. Studies using Mongolian gerbils, started by U. Ito, resulted in several important findings, including observation of the maturation phenomenon in 1975. Using newly developed ischemia models, the mechanism of postischemic neuronal/tissue injury was extensively studied. The cumulative effect was observed after repetitive cerebral ischemia. The protective mechanism of cortical spreading depression after global ischemia was investigated. Projects including in vitro studies of human brain endothelial cells and mucosal tolerance to E-selectin were performed in the Stroke branch after Klatzo retired from the NIH. Klatzo published a biography of Cecil and Oskar Vogt after retirement. He passed away in May 2007 in Gaithersburg, Maryland a few months after he completed the first part of his autobiography.