Glial Cell Architecture Dynamics in Dentate Gyrus and CA4 Area of Wistar Rat Hippocampus Following 20-minute Occlusion of Common Carotid Arteries

Aim. To study the distribution and spatial organization of dentate gyrus (DG) astrocytes and CA4 area of hippocampus of Wistar rats following 20-minute occlusion of common carotid arteries (OCCA) compared to sham-operated control animals.

Material and methods. Histological (Nissl staining with hematoxylin and eosin), immunohistochemical (GFAP, MAP-2) and morphometric methods were used. Astrocytes and neurons in control (sham-operated animals, n = 5) group, after 6 hours (n=5), 1 days (n=5), 3 days (n=5), 7 days (n=5), 14 days (n=5) and 30 days (n=5) after 20-minute OCCA were studied on thin (4 µm) serial frontal sections of the hippocampus. Fractal analysis (ImageJ 1.52; fraclac 2.5 plugin) was used to obtain additional quantitative information on the spatial organization of astrocyte networks. Statistical hypotheses were tested using nonparametric criteria.

Results. 30 days after the 20-minute OCCA, only 5.3% of CA4 neurons were irreversibly destroyed and the total numerical density of DG granular cells remained at the control level. Hypertrophy and increased complexity of the spatial organization of astrocyte processes were observed 6 hours and 1 day after OCCA and persisted for 30 days. Astrogliosis was accompanied by an increased relative area of GFAP-positive material and fractal dimension and reduced lacunarity of the astrocyte network. The latter was especially evident in 1, 14 and 30 days after the OCCA.

Conclusion. After the 20-minute OCCA, the density of GFAP-positive material increased, the fibroarchitecture reorganized and gained more complexity due to the branching of astrocyte processes. At the same time, the total numerical density of neurons changed only slightly. All this indicated the probable role of astrocytes in post-ischemic activation of natural neuroprotection mechanisms.

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