G. Martinez et al., MAP2, SYNAPTOPHYSIN IMMUNOSTAINING IN RAT-BRAIN AND BEHAVIORAL-MODIFICATIONS AFTER CEREBRAL POSTISCHEMIC REPERFUSION, Developmental neuroscience, 19(6), 1997, pp. 457-464
Plasticity in the central nervous system after cerebral ischemia is a
controversial issue; focal cerebral ischemia produces an area of infar
ction that is surrounded by neurons that may respond to nearby damage
by creating new synapses. In the present study the expression of the p
ostsynaptic microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2) and the presynapti
c marker protein, synaptophysin, was investigated by immunocytochemica
l techniques in the CA1 sector of hippocampus and in cerebellum of rat
s made ischemic by bilateral clamping of common carotid arteries and r
eperfused for 7 and 30 days. In addition, ischemia-induced behavioral
alterations were also evaluated after 7 and 30 days of reperfusion. Th
e present study demonstrates a decreased postsynaptic MAP2 immunoreact
ivity, representative of neuronal loss, particularly in CA1 sector of
hippocampus and in cerebellum of ischemic rats reperfused for 7 days.
After 30 days of reperfusion, MAP2 immunostaining was similar to contr
ol. In the same brain sections an increased presynaptic synaptophysin
immunoreactivity has been observed only after 30 days of reperfusion.
These data suggest compensatory regenerative changes associated with s
ynaptic remodelling and are supported by behavioral recovery observed
under the same experimental conditions.