Pericytes, as the mural cells surrounding the microvasculature, play a critical role in the regulation of microcirculation; however, how these cells respond to ischemic stroke remains unclear. To determine the temporal alterations in pericytes after ischemia/reperfusion, we used the 1-hour middle cerebral artery occlusion model, which was examined at 2, 12, and 24 hours after reperfusion. Our results showed that in the reperfused regions, the cerebral blood flow decreased and the infarct volume increased with time. Furthermore, the pericytes in the infarct regions contracted and acted on the vascular endothelial cells within 24 hours after reperfusion. These effects may result in incomplete microcirculation reperfusion and a gradual worsening trend with time in the acute phase. These findings provide strong evidence for explaining the "no-reflow" phenomenon that occurs after recanalization in clinical practice.
Keywords: acute ischemic stroke; alpha-smooth muscle; cerebral blood flow; microcirculation; no-reflow phenomenon; pericytes; platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1; platelet-derived growth factor receptor beta; vascular endothelial cells.