An introduction to the changes in gene expression that occur after cerebral ischaemia

Ischaemia is the final common pathway of brain cell death following a varie ty of insults. We consider the effect of cerebral ischaemia on gene express ion, concentrating on immediate early genes, those encoding heat shock prot eins, growth factors, cytokines, adhesion molecules, nitric oxide synthase and proteins involved in programmed cell death. We conclude that the change s in gene expression resulting from ischaemia are important determinants of neuronal and glial survival. In the future it may become possible to manip ulate gene expression to limit the extent of damage arising from cerebral i schaemia.