ABSTRACT
AIM: To study forms of cell death following cerebral ischemia/reperfusion in diabetic rats. METHODS: Based on the modles of diabetes and middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO), characteristics of cell death after ischemia/reperfusion were evaluated synthetically by the pathological, flow cytometry(FCM), TUNEL and the DNA agarose electrophoresis.RESULTS: The occurrence of cerebral injury after ischemia/reperfusion were accompanied by cell necrosis and cell apoptosis. And cell apoptosis was mainly located in ischeamic penumbra(IP) zone around the densely ischemic focus. Ischemic centre(IC)was characterized by cell necrosis. At the same time, the results showed that the process of ischemic cerebral injury worsen by diabetes mellitus was related to inducing cell apoptosis in IP and Mid zone.CONCLUSION: Neuronal damage following focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion included cell necrosis and apoptosis, IC zone was mainly characterized by the former, however IP zone by the latter, and there had close internal relationship between them. Brain damage following cerebral ischemia/reperfusion was worsen instinctly under diabetic condition.