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Polymorphonuclear leukocytes and microcirculatory perfusion in acute stroke in the SHR
D A Dawson1, C A Ruetzler, T M Carlos
1Stroke Branch, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-4128, USA.
The Keio Journal of Medicine
|September 1, 1996
Summary
Depleting polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) in rats reduced brain microcirculation impairment and ischemic brain injury volume following acute stroke. This finding highlights the role of PMNs in stroke pathology.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Immunology
- Pathology
Background:
- Acute ischemic stroke is a leading cause of disability.
- Polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) play a role in the inflammatory response to stroke.
- Understanding the impact of PMNs on brain microcirculation and injury is crucial for developing effective treatments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of depleting circulating PMNs on brain microcirculation and lesion size in an acute stroke model.
- To assess the role of PMNs in the pathophysiology of ischemic stroke.
Main Methods:
- Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats (SHRs) were used in a middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model.
- Animals were treated with an anti-neutrophil antibody (RP-3) to deplete PMNs or with saline.
- Microvascular perfusion was assessed using an intravascular fluorescent tracer technique.
- Lesion volume was determined by histological analysis.
Main Results:
- MCAO in rats with normal neutrophil levels caused significant impairment of microvascular perfusion and maximal ischemic lesion volume.
- Depletion of circulating PMNs using RP-3 significantly attenuated microvessel perfusion impairment.
- PMN depletion also significantly reduced the volume of ischemic brain injury.
Conclusions:
- Circulating PMNs contribute to microcirculatory disturbances and brain damage in acute ischemic stroke.
- Targeting PMNs may be a potential therapeutic strategy for reducing brain injury in stroke patients.