Alternate approach to understanding the molecular mechanisms of stroke-induced injury
A.E. Willing1 and K.R. Pennypacker2
1Department of Neurosurgery, Center of Excellence for Aging and Brain Repair, and 2Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, University of South Florida, Florida, USA
Offprint requests to: Keith R. Pennypacker, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Molecualr Pharmacology and Physiology, School of Basic Biomedical Sciences, University of South Florida, Florida, USA. e-mail: kpennypa@hsc.usf.edu
Summary. Research in the area of stroke has not yielded any new treatments, besides tissue plasminogen activator. New findings are suggesting that the therapeutic window of providing neuroprotection is wider than once thought. Moreover, the role of the peripheral immune system in abetting neurodegeneration is being elucidated, but it appears this reaction occurs 2-3 days after the stroke. This mini-review examines this new evidence about the molecular mechanisms leading to stroke-induced neuronal death, which suggests new therapeutic approaches to its treatment. Histol Histopathol 22, 697-701 (2007)
Key words: Ischemia, Microglia, Neuronal death
DOI: 10.14670/HH-22.697