ANALYSIS OF NEOCORTICAL GRAFTS PLACED INTO FOCAL ISCHEMIC LESIONS IN ADULT-RATS

This study investigated the viability of fetal neocortical block graft s transplanted into adult ischemic cortical lesions. Recipient rats su stained focal ischemic lesions by permanent occlusion of the middle ce rebral artery 4-7 days prior to transplantation. Twenty days later, th e animals were sacrificed and the brains examined using triphenyltetra zolium chloride, routine Nissl or acetylcholinesterase histochemistry. Ischemic infarctions were localized to the ipsilateral sensorimotor c ortex and transplants were integrated with the host cerebral cortex or striatum. Cholinergic fibers were found crossing the host-transplant interface, presumably innervating the graft. This study demonstrates t hat fetal neocortical block grafts placed into adult focal ischemic le sions following permanent arterial occlusion can survive and establish connections with the host brain.