Spatiotemporal Protein Atlas of Cell Death-Related Molecules in the Rat MCAO Stroke Model

Ischemic stroke and cerebral infarction triggered by the blockage of blood supply can cause damage to the brain via a complex series of pathological changes. Recently, diverse therapies have emerged as promising candidates for the treatment of stroke. These treatments exert therapeutic effects by acting on diverse target molecules and cells in different time windows from the acute to chronic phases. Here, using immunohistochemistry, we show pathophysiological changes in the brain microenvironment at the hyperacute (within 6 h), acute (1~3 days), subacute (7 days), and chronic (1 month) phases following ischemic injury. Ischemic injury in rats was induced by occluding the middle cerebral artery and was validated by magnetic resonance imaging. The progression of damage to the brain was evaluated by immunohistochemistry for NeuN⁺ neurons, GFAP⁺ astrocytes, and Iba1⁺ microglia, and by the emergence of the cell death-related molecules such as AIF, FAF1, and activated caspase-3. Our data regarding the spatial and temporal information on pathophysiological changes may warrant the investigation of the timing of administration of therapeutic treatments in preclinical studies with an animal model of stroke.