ABSTRACT
AIM: To study the microglial/macrophagic reactions to chronic foral cerebral ischmeia METHODS:ED1 and OX42 positive cellular reactive profiles including time-course and distribution as well as morphological changes were explored in the ischemic cortex and the ischemic caudoputamen of 36 SD adult rats by using focal cerebral ischemic model and immunohistochemical method RESULTS: On the 3rd day after ischemia, an increased number of round ED1 positive cells were found in the outer boundary of cortical ischemic foci and the ischemic caudoputamen, and some of the positive cells were present in the cortical ischemic core At 2nd week after ischemia, ED1 positive cells peaked in number, and they were located at cortical ischemic core and lateral caudoputamen, at which they persisted up to 6 weeks after ischemia. On the 3rd day after ischemia, ramified OX42 positive cells became hypertrophy and a marked increase in number, and they were present at the periphery of ischemic foci and in the ischemic caudoputamen At 2nd week after ischemia, OX42 positive cells became more hypertrophy, and a number of round OX42 positive cells were detected in the cortical ischemic core, in which they persisted up to 6 weeks after ischemia. CONCLUSION:Focal cerebral ischemia induces microglial/macrophagic reaction persistently, which may be correlative with neuronal delayed injury and self recovery of ischemic foci.