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Ultrastructural Changes in the Penumbra of the Local Cerebral Infarction in Rats
N Chlikadze1,2, M Arabuli2, I Lazrishvili3
1Research Institute of Chemical Biology, Ilia State University, Tbilisi, Georgia.
Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine
|March 30, 2022
Summary
Early ischemic stroke treatment is crucial. Ultrastructural changes in brain synapses become irreversible within 2-4 days post-stroke, impacting neuronal function.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cell Biology
- Pathology
Background:
- Ischemic stroke affects brain tissue, particularly the penumbra zone.
- Understanding synaptic and myelin changes is vital for stroke treatment strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the temporal ultrastructural changes in synapses and myelin nerve fibers in the penumbra after ischemic stroke in rats.
- To determine the time course of irreversible damage in the penumbra.
Main Methods:
- Modeled ischemic stroke in rats using photothrombotic infarction in the frontoparietal cortex.
- Analyzed synaptic and myelin ultrastructure at 4, 12 hours, and 2, 4 days post-stroke using electron microscopy.
Main Results:
- Observed significant ultrastructural changes in axodendritic and axospinous synapses within hours of stroke.
- Noted mitochondrial swelling, dendritic vacuolization, and synaptic vesicle disorganization.
- Identified irreversible changes in presynaptic terminals and degenerated myelinated axons by 2-4 days post-stroke.
Conclusions:
- Synaptic ultrastructure in the penumbra undergoes irreversible changes 2-4 days after ischemic stroke.
- These findings underscore the critical need for timely therapeutic interventions to mitigate stroke-induced neuronal damage.
