July 1, 1988Open Access
View Full PaperStroke risk factors prepare rat brainstem tissues for modified local Shwartzman reaction.
Key Result
Stroke risk factors predisposed rats to develop brainstem infarcts and neurologic deficits following intracisternal injection of endotoxin, compared to rats without recognized risk factors.
Structured PICO
Do stroke risk factors predispose rat brainstem tissues to a modified local Shwartzman reaction following endotoxin injection?
P
Population
Rats with and without stroke risk factors subjected to intracisternal injection of endotoxin to evaluate the development of brainstem infarcts.
E
Exposure
Single intracisternal injection of endotoxin
C
Comparator
Rats without recognized risk factors receiving intracisternal injection of endotoxin
O
Outcome
Development of modified local Shwartzman reaction (neurologic deficits and pathologic lesions/brainstem infarcts)surrogate
Stroke risk factors may predispose to brain ischemia through local effects on brain microcirculation, independent of atherosclerosis acceleration.
Abstract
Stroke risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, advanced age, and genetic predisposition to stroke were demonstrated to prepare rat brainstem tissues for a modified local Shwartzman reaction. A single intracisternal injection of endotoxin provoked the reaction, and affected rats manifested neurologic deficits accompanied by pathologic lesions. Brainstem infarcts developed in only a small proportion of rats without recognized risk factors after intracisternal injection of endotoxin. Thus, stroke risk factors, which are ordinarily regarded as operating through acceleration of atherosclerosis, may predispose to brain ischemia by local effects on brain microcirculation such as those thought to underlie preparation of a tissue for the local Shwartzman reaction.