Temporal evolution of neuropathologic changes in an immature rat model of cerebral hypoxia: a light microscopic study

The sequential evolution of neuropathologic changes was studied in an immature model of cerebral hypoxia-ischemia. According, 7-day postnatal rats were subjected to unilateral common carotid artery ligation combined with 2 h of hypoxia (breathing in 8% oxygen) and their brains were examined by light microscopy at recovery intervals ranging from 0 to 3 weeks. Immediately following hypoxia, a large area with a pale staining border was noted occupying most of the cerebral hemisphere ipsilateral (IL) to the occluded common carotid artery; in approximately half of the brains the dorsomedial cortex of the contralateral (CL) hemisphere was also involved. Most neurons in the pale area had nuclei containing a coarse granular condensation of chromatin. Within a few hours, the majority of neurons in the IL hemisphere had developed pyknotic nuclei and clear or eosinophilic perikarya. After 24 h these changes had evolved in the majority of brains into coagulation necrosis (infarction) in the IL hemisphere and foci of selective neuronal necrosis in the CL cortex. Within a few days infarcts became partially cavitated, and by 3 weeks a smooth-walled cystic infarct had developed. Activated microglia/macrophages and reactive astrocytes were first seen at 4 and 24 h, respectively. No parenchymal neutrophilic infiltrate was seen at any time point.