Overview of Experimental and Clinical Findings regarding the Neuroprotective Effects of Cerebral Ischemic Postconditioning

Figure 3

Effect of ischemic postconditioning on collateral circulation. Ischemic postconditioning can effectively reduce the infarct area as well as the infarct border zones between the cortical territories of the ACA and those of the MCA (lenticulostriate artery supply area) in a rat model of MCAO. (a) The spared regions of the infarct area following ischemic postconditioning are observed in border zones between the cortical territories of the ACA and those of the MCA (area 1), as well as in the ventromedial and dorsolateral striatum (area 2). (b) The schematic diagram shows brain regions with collateral blood supply. The cerebral collateral circulation may be defined as a subsidiary vascular network that is dynamically recruited after arterial occlusion and represents a powerful determinant of ischemic stroke outcome. The red lines signify blood supplied by cerebral arteries, and the blue regions in the schematic drawing indicate the “fighting area” between collaterals of the ACA and MCA, as well as the medial lenticulostriate artery (MLSA) of the ACA and the lateral lenticulostriate artery (LLSA) of the MCA. CA; cortical artery, DLS; dorsolateral striatum, M; midline, VMS; ventromedial striatum; ACA: anterior cerebral artery; MCA: middle cerebral artery; MCAO: middle cerebral artery occlusion.

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