Poststroke Neurogenesis: Stroke sends signals to areas of the brain where neural stem cells are located. These signals stimulate the migration of newly born immature neurons (neuroblasts) into areas of ischemic injury. It has been demonstrated that thousands of neuroblasts migrate from their origin, subventricular zone (SVZ), to the cortical areas around the infarction. Labeling these cells with the thymidine analog bromodeoxyuridine has indicated that they migrate in groups in sequential periods over several days after stroke. Unfortunately, these successive waves of migration have been found not to increase the total number of neuroblasts in the periinfarct zone. This has been explained by the fact that newly born neuroblasts die within several days of their arrival.
To understand the mechanisms of poststroke neurogenesis, some studies have suggested that stroke activates hypoxia-inducible factor-1 in the periinfarct cortical areas which is a transcription factor and one of the early molecular signals after stroke. Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 induces the expression of the endogenous erythropoietin around the infarct. Erythropoietin stimulates the proliferation and differentiation of the neural stem cells of the SVZ as well as the migration of the neuroblasts to the periinfarct cortical areas. In addition, erythropoietin induces angiogenesis near the infarction. It has been demonstrated that erythropoietin produces these biological effects by increasing the level of the neurotrophic factors brain-derived neurotrophic factors (BDNF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).
The Neural Repair Institute is a legal assumed name for Your Biology, NFP
The Neural Repair Institute is a not-for-profit, tax exempt organization under section 501 C 3. All donations are tax-deductible. P.O. Box 437 - Chicago Ridge, IL 60415 - 0437 Tel: 708 - 393 - 6383 Fax: 708 - 496 - 6466 Website: www.neuralrepairinstitute.orgEmail: contact@neuralrepairinstitute.org