Background: Previous studies have estimated that the risk of recurrent stroke was nearly 20% shortly after a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or minor stroke. A missing or hypoplastic (<0.5 mm) anterior communicating artery can have deleterious effects on the brain. Our study aimed to investigate the effect of anterior communicating artery flow on neurovascular injury and neurobehavioral outcomes in mice with recurrent stroke and to identify its underlying mechanisms.
Methods: A recurrent stroke model was established by an initial cortical infarction followed by a corticostriatal infarction 3 days later. The vascular structure was visualized using synchrotron radiation angiography & magnetic resonance angiography in vivo and transparent endovascular perfusion imaging in vitro. Microvessel perfusion was assessed via fluorescein isothiocyanate perfusion. The infarct volume was measured by magnetic resonance imaging.
Results: The finding that anterior communicating artery flow facilitates pial artery patency in the ipsilateral hemisphere in mice with recurrent stroke suggests that compensatory collateral patency contributes to increased regional cerebral blood flow, enhanced microcirculatory perfusion, improved neurological function and reduced infarct volume.
Conclusions: The results of this study demonstrate that anterior communicating artery flow alleviates recurrent stroke-induced neurovascular injury and improves neurobehavioral outcomes by promoting the establishment of collateral circulation.
Keywords: Anterior communicating artery; Collateral circulation; Recurrent stroke.
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