Degeneration of Astrocytic Processes and Their Mitochondria in Cerebral Cortical Regions Peripheral to the Cortical Infarction Heterogeneity of Their Disintegration Is Closely Associated With Disseminated Selective Neuronal Necrosis and Maturation of Inju

Background and Purpose—Astrocytes support neuronal functions by regulating the extracellular ion-homeostasis and levels of neurotransmitters, and by providing fuel such as lactate to the neurons via their astrocytic processes (APs). Whether injured APs are associated with neuronal survival/death is still an unanswered question. We investigated APs in the neuropil, especially those around astrocytes and normal-appearing, degenerating, and dead neurons in cerebral cortical regions peripheral to the cortical infarction (RPI). Methods—Stroke-positive gerbils were euthanized at various times after the ischemic insult. Ultrathin sections were obtained from the RPI sectioned coronally at the infundibular level. We counted the number of normal-appearing, degenerated, and dead neurons and astrocytes in paraffin sections, the number of cut-ends and mitochondria in APs in the neuropil on electron-microscopic photographs, and determined the percent-volume of APs by Weibel point-counting method. We compared the number of cut-ends and mitochondria and percent-volume of APs around astrocytes at 5 hours and 48 hours, and around normal-appearing, degenerated, and dead neurons at 12 hours. Results—Although the number of astrocytes did not change (average of 12.30.20%) during 0 to 48 hours, that of the dead neurons increased from 9.711.34 to 44.391.40 % during 5 to 48 hours postischemia. The number of normal-appearing APs and mitochondria in APs decreased respectively from 13.490.65 to 1.610.14/28.20 m2 and from 1.860.18 to 0.610.07/28.20 m2 in the neuropil during 0 to 48 hours. The number of normal-appearing APs aroun