Changes in the content of ATP synthase in brain neurons during experimental cerebral ischemia

Introduction. ATP synthase is a key component of ATP synthesis. The study of its content in brain neurons in experimental cerebral ischemia may reflect changes in the functional state of different neurons and their sensitivity to the pathological effect. The study aimed to reveal patterns in ATP synthase immunoreactivity in neurons of various parts of the rat brain during subtotal ischemia of various durations. Materials and methods. Modeling of subtotal cerebral ischemia (SCI) was carried out by ligation of both common carotid arteries (n=12: control group – n=4, 30-minute SCI – n=4, 3-hour SCI – n=4); the control animals underwent a sham surgery. Frontal paraffin sections were stained according to the Nissl method to identify brain structures and immunohistochemically for ATP synthase. ATP synthase immunoreactivity was expressed in units of optical density ×103. Results. Changes in the immunoreactivity of ATP synthase in brain structures occur to varying degrees and not in all studied structures. The most pronounced and rapid decrease in the content of ATP synthase was observed in telencephalon, namely in the temporal and retrosplenial agranular cortex. The least pronounced changes in the cortex were in the structures of the hippocampus, in the neurons of layer II of the CA2 field. In the structures of the thalamus, hypothalamus, and midbrain the dynamic varied. In the structures of the medulla oblongata, the decrease in immunoreactivity occurs more slowly and less pronounced. Conclusion. During experimental cerebral ischemia the degree and rate of change in the content of ATP synthase in rat brain structures vary greatly and depend both on the brain region and the neurotransmitter nature of neurons. Keywords: ATP synthase, ischemia, immunohistochemistry, brain, rat