Article

OBJECTIVES: Cognitive dysfunction and dementia are common following ischemic
stroke. Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) has been found to play an
important role in neurologic function and cognition. The purpose of the present
study was to assess the specific role of eNOS in cognitive performance after
stroke. DESIGN: Male wild-type and mice lacking eNOS (eNOS) underwent middle
cerebral artery occlusion or sham-surgery. Primary outcomes were repeated
measures of neurologic score, limb asymmetry, sensory/motor function, and spatial
memory/learning assessed at intervals up to 28 days postsurgery. Group
differences in brain microglia activation and infiltration and levels of
interferon-gamma were examined. RESULTS: There was no genotype x surgery
interaction effect on the pattern of change in neurologic score, limb asymmetry,
or sensory motor function across the 28 days postsurgery. In the Morris water
maze, eNOS middle cerebral artery occlusion mice displayed learning and memory
deficits not evident in wild-type middle cerebral artery occlusion mice. Poorer
spatial memory and learning in eNOS middle cerebral artery occlusion mice was
associated with a reduction in the number of activated microglia in the striatum
on the lesion side and decreased brain tissue levels of interferon-gamma.
CONCLUSIONS: This study's data support a role for eNOS in cognitive performance
after stroke. This finding may lead to the development of novel interventions to
treat poststroke cognitive deficits.

Langue : ANGLAIS