Characteristics of Glial Reaction in the Perinatal Rat Cortex: Effect of Lesion Size in the ‘Critical Period’

Abstract

SUMMARYIn this study we investigate the capability of lesions, performed between embryonic day El8 and postnatal day P6, to provoke glial reaction. Two different lesion types were applied: 'severe' lesion (tissue defect) and 'light' lesion (stab wound). The glial reaction was detected with immunostaining against glial fibrillary acidic protein. When performed as early as P0, severe lesions could result in reactive gliosis, which persisted even after a month. The glial reaction was detected at P6/P7 and became strong by P8, regardless of the age when the animals were lesioned between P0 and P5. Namely, a strict limit could be estimated for the age when reactive glia were already found rather than for the age when glial reaction-provoking lesions could occur. After prenatal lesions, no glial reaction developed, but the usual glia limitans covered the deformed brain surface. Light lesions provoked glial reactions when performed at P6. In conclusion, three scenarios were found, depending on the age of the animal at injury" (i) healing without glial reaction, regardless of the remaining deformation; (ii) depending on the size of the lesion, either