Inflammatory cell populations in early neuroinflammation in the core and peri-ischemic lesions of rat brain after transient focal cerebral ischemia: A morphometric study

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1 Dept. of Pathology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Targu Mures, Targu-Mures, Romania
2 Laboratory Animal Facility-Center for Experimental Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
3 Faculty of Physics, National Magnetic Resonance Center, Babes-Bolyai University of Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
4 Center for Advanced Medical and Pharmaceutical Research, Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Targu Mures, Târgu-Mureș, Romania
5 Department of Biochemistry, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Targu Mures, Târgu- Mureș, Romania
6 Center for Advanced Medical and Pharmaceutical Research, Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Targu Mures, Târgu- Mureș, Romania
DOI
10.7287/peerj.preprints.26510v1
Published
Accepted
Subject Areas
Neuroscience, Pathology
Keywords
transient focal cerebral ischemia, core and penumbra zone, inflammatory infiltrate, digital morphometry, Cox-2, FXIII, T-lymphocytes, microglia/macrophage cells
Copyright
© 2018 Horvath et al.
Licence
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, reproduction and adaptation in any medium and for any purpose provided that it is properly attributed. For attribution, the original author(s), title, publication source (PeerJ Preprints) and either DOI or URL of the article must be cited.
Cite this article
Horvath E, Oradan A, Chiriac L, Dobreanu M, Nagy E, Hutanu A. 2018. Inflammatory cell populations in early neuroinflammation in the core and peri-ischemic lesions of rat brain after transient focal cerebral ischemia: A morphometric study. PeerJ Preprints 6:e26510v1

Abstract

Background and Objective: Clinical and experimental observations emphasize the role of inflammation as a direct risk factor for stroke. To better characterize the inflammation, we have conducted a detailed histological analysis of the inflammatory cell population after transient middle cerebral artery occlusion in a rat model.

Methods: Fifteen adult Wistar male rats were divided randomly into test (n=10) and sham (n=5) groups. In the ischemic group, transient focal cerebral ischemia was induced with an intraluminal filament technique. Histologic lesions of the ischemic core and the surrounding penumbra zone were evaluated, based on a complex algorithm. Representative morphological changes in the core and the penumbra zone were compared. Immunohistochemistry was performed for leukocytes markers (CD15, CD68, CD3), leukocyte-released effectors (MMP-9 and COX-2), and FXIII (possibly involved in microglia and macrophage activation)

Results: Neuronal vacuolation and degeneration were significantly more in the core lesion, whereas cellular edema and inflammatory infiltrate were increased in the penumbra. CD68, CD3, FXIII and Cox-2 expression were significantly higher in the penumbra than in the core (p=0.026; p=0.006; p=0.002; and p<0.001).

Discussion: In the rat model of middle cerebral artery occlusion, inflammatory mechanisms, microglia/macrophage cells, and T-lymphocytes likely play an important role in the penumbra. The deterioration of neurons is less in the penumbra than in the core. Appreciation of the role of the inflammatory cells and mechanisms involved in stroke might lead to measures to inhibit the injury and save brain volume.

Author Comment

This is a submission to PeerJ for review.

Supplemental Information

Total tissue damage score and inflammatory cell population-immunohistochemistry

p-penumbra

co-core

IHC data are shown as positive surface area on the examined field

DOI: 10.7287/peerj.preprints.26510v1/supp-1