Abstract
The present experiments were undertaken to define changes in tissue calcium metabolism in focal and perifocal (“penumbral”) tissues following 2 h of transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in rats, induced with an intraluminal filament occlusion technique. The extracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]e) was measured with ion-selective microelectrodes in neocortical focus and penumbra. For measurement of total tissue calcium content, tissue samples from these areas were collected and analyzed with atomic absorption spectrometry. During MCAO, [Ca2+]e in a neocortical focal area fell from a normal value of about 1.2 mM to values around 0.1 mM, suggesting translocation of virtually all extracellular calcium to intracellular fluids. Recirculation was accompanied by re-extrusion of calcium within 5–7 min; however, [Ca2+]e never returned to normal but stabilized at about 50% of the control value for the first 6 h, and decreased further after 24 h. In penumbral areas, [Ca2+]e showed the expected transient decreases associated with spreading depression-like (or ischemic) depolarization waves. Recirculation was followed by return of [Ca2+]e towards normal values. In the focus, water content increased from about 79% to about 80.4% at the end of the 2-h period of ischemia. After 2 h and 4 h of recirculation, the edema was aggravated (mean values 81.9% and 81.2%, respectively). After 6 h and 24 h, the edema was more pronounced (83.6% and 83.8%, respectively). In the penumbra, no significant edema was observed until 6 h and 24 h of recirculation. The total tissue calcium content in the focus (expressed by unit dry weight) increased at the end of the ischemia period demonstrating calcium translocation from blood to tissue. After 6 h and 24 h, the content increased two- to threefold, compared with control. Changes in the penumbra were qualitatively similar but less pronounced, and a significant increase was not observed until after 6 h of recirculation. The results suggest that 2 h of MCAO leads to a profound perturbation of cell calcium metabolism. In focal areas, cells fail to extrude the calcium that is gradually accumulated during reperfusion and show massive calcium overload after the first 4–6 h of recirculation. Penumbral tissues show a similar increase in calcium concentration after 6 h of recirculation.
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Received: 2 June 1997 / Accepted: 26 November 1997
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Kristián, T., Gidö, G., Kuroda, S. et al. Calcium metabolism of focal and penumbral tissues in rats subjected to transient middle cerebral artery occlusion. Exp Brain Res 120, 503–509 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/s002210050424
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s002210050424