Abstract

ORTIZ PLATA, Alma et al. Cellular injury study caused by cerebral ischemia in a rat model. Determination of apoptosis presence. Arch. Neurocien. (Mex., D.F.) [online]. 2004, vol.9, n.4, pp.202-205. ISSN 1028-5938.

The cerebral vascular disease is one of the main reasons of incapacity and mortality in the world. Here it was analyzed the cellular ischemic injury by middle cerebral artery occlusion in a rat model at several times (5, 10, 12-15, 30 and 60 minutes), in different cerebral regions (frontal, parietal, occipital and hippocampus), that were analyzed by light microscopy, electron microscopy, LM-PCR (Ladder Assay-Polymerase Chain Reaction) and TUNEL (Terminal deoxinucleotidil transferasa mediated dUTP Nick End Labeling). At five minutes hypoxic changes as loss of cytoplasmic volume and nuclear pyknosis were observed. At 12 minutes were found changes suggesting apoptosis such as individual cells with chromatin and cytoplasmic condensation but without edema in all cerebral regions, predominantly in occipital and hippocampus. Under electron microscopy so me cells with chromatin condensation were observed. LM-PCR technique shows the typical DNA ladder fragmentation, starting at 12 minutes. TUNEL test was positive in neurons at 12 minutes in occipital and hippocampus regions. These results suggest that apoptosis in cerebral cells start at 12 minutes after focal cerebral ischemia. It might evidence the presence of cellular active processes of neuronal death at early times of ischemia.

Keywords : cerebral ischemia; apoptosis; delay cell death; LM-PCR; TUNEL.