ABSTRACT
AIM: To investigate the relationship between morphologic changes in neuron or neuroglial cells and expression of tumor necrosis factor ? (TNF-?) and c-Myc in cortex after focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion in MCAO rats. METHODS: The focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion model was established by intraluminal thread occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (MCAO). The middle cerebral arteries of rats were occluded for 2 hours and reperfused for 1, 3 and 7 days. Using the techniques of immunohistochemical staining and optical microscopy, the morphologic changes in neuron or neuroglial cells were observed in the cortex of frontal or parietal lobe; the cell types which dynamicaly expressed TNF-?, c-Myc in the different period were also observed. RESULTS: The degeneration or necrosis of neuron or neuroglial cells were observed at the center of infarction, it was very serious at 3 d after reperfussion. Astrocyte and microglial cell proliferation were observed at the broder of infarction. TNF-? and c-Myc positive cells, most of which were astrocytes and microglial cells, increased significantly at 3 d after reperfusion. CONCLUSION: TNF-? and c-Myc may play an important role in the regulation of neuron or neuroglial cells after focal cerebral ischemia with reperfusion. [