White Matter Changes in the Gerbil Brain Under Chronic Cerebral Hypoperfusion

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Abstract
Background and Purpose—An animal model of chronic cerebral hypoperfusion was developed with coiled clips applied to both carotid arteries of adult Mongolian gerbils for between 1 week and 2 months. In the brain of this animal model, rarefaction of white matter with dilatation of the ventricles was frequently observed. To better understand the mechanism of white matter alteration under cerebral hypoperfusion, the chronological sequence of molecular changes in the cerebral white matter of the animal model was determined. Methods—Specially designed coiled clips were placed around both carotid arteries of Mongolian gerbils to create stenosis without occlusion. Changes in levels of myelin basic protein (MBP) as a marker of myelin, neurofilament H (NFH) as a marker of axonal proteins, and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in astroglia after 2 months of cerebral hypoperfusion were analyzed with Western blotting and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results—Western blotting of the white matter after 2 month...