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Ischemic Stroke ll: Pathophysiology

Ischemic Stroke ll: Pathophysiology

An ischemic stroke occurs when a cerebral blood vessel becomes obstructed, most often by a thrombus or embolus, interrupting the delivery of oxygen and glucose to brain tissue. Because neurons rely on continuous aerobic metabolism, energy failure begins within minutes of reduced perfusion. The region receiving the least blood flow becomes the infarct core, an area of irreversible cellular death. Surrounding this core lies the penumbra, a zone of hypoperfused but still viable tissue that is...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 8, 2026

Isolation and Flow Cytometric Assessment of Neuroimmune Interactions in a Mini-Stroke Murine Model

Isolation and Flow Cytometric Assessment of Neuroimmune Interactions in a Mini-Stroke Murine Model

Published on: June 20, 2025

Microglial activation in stroke: therapeutic targets.

Midori A Yenari¹, Tiina M Kauppinen, Raymond A Swanson

¹Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco and San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco, California 94121, USA.

Neurotherapeutics : the Journal of the American Society for Experimental Neurotherapeutics

|October 1, 2010

Summary

Microglial activation, an early brain injury response, can be therapeutically targeted. Suppressing harmful inflammation while preserving beneficial repair is key for stroke recovery.

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Three-dimensional Confocal Analysis of Microglia/macrophage Markers of Polarization in Experimental Brain Injury

Three-dimensional Confocal Analysis of Microglia/macrophage Markers of Polarization in Experimental Brain Injury

Published on: September 4, 2013

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 8, 2026

Isolation and Flow Cytometric Assessment of Neuroimmune Interactions in a Mini-Stroke Murine Model

Isolation and Flow Cytometric Assessment of Neuroimmune Interactions in a Mini-Stroke Murine Model

Published on: June 20, 2025

Three-dimensional Confocal Analysis of Microglia/macrophage Markers of Polarization in Experimental Brain Injury

Three-dimensional Confocal Analysis of Microglia/macrophage Markers of Polarization in Experimental Brain Injury

Published on: September 4, 2013

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Immunology
Pathology

Background:

Microglia are key immune cells in the brain, constantly monitoring homeostasis.
They activate in response to brain ischemia and other stressors via signaling molecules like ATP and cytokines.
This activation initiates an innate immune response that can worsen ischemic injury.

Purpose of the Study:

To explore microglial activation as a therapeutic target for brain ischemia.
To investigate the dual role of the innate immune response in stroke outcome.
To identify strategies for selectively modulating microglial responses.

Main Methods:

Review of signaling molecules inducing microglial proliferation and migration.
Analysis of the time course of microglial activation.
Examination of therapeutic agents targeting microglial pathways.

Main Results:

Microglial activation is an early event in brain ischemia, occurring over hours to days.
Signaling molecules like ATP, glutamate, and cytokines drive microglial proliferation and inflammation.
Therapeutic agents exist to block microglial activation and downstream inflammatory responses.

Conclusions:

Microglial activation presents a viable therapeutic target with a broad intervention window.
The innate immune response by microglia has both detrimental and beneficial effects on stroke outcomes.
Future strategies must selectively inhibit harmful microglial effects without impeding neurovascular repair.