Expression of Cytoskeletal Proteins in Neurons of the Rat Sensorimotor Cortex upon Hypoperfusion of the Brain and Sensitization by Cerebral Antigen

Relatively mild disturbances in the blood supply of the rat brain provided by ligation of one common carotid artery leading to relatively mild disturbances of the cerebral blood supply or sensitization of the animals by brain antigen induce noticeable disorganization of the cytoskeleton in neurons of the sensorimotor cortex (SMC). The most considerable shifts in the system of cytoskeleton proteins were decreased expressions of low molecular mass neurofilament proteins (NF-L), actin (Act), and β-tubulin (β-tub), and increased expression of tau-protein (tau-p) within an early period after induction of hypoperfusion or sensitization (days 1–10) with a tendency toward normalization within the 2nd to 3rd months. The nature of changes in the NF-L expression allows one to qualify the observed phenomena as results of terminal neurodegeneration with subsequent regeneration. Decreased expression of Act and β-tub in the neuropil elements may be related to the impairment of the synaptic function and plasticity, whereas such shifts in the neuronal somata probably reflect disorders of the synthesis of these proteins. An increase in the tau-p expression was a most significant change among the observed phenomena. Presensitization of the animals with cerebral antigen potentiated the effects of ligation of the carotid artery and slowed down the recovery processes.