Urgent changes in the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1a (HIF-1a) in the neocortex of rats with different tolerance to acute hypoxia underwent focal ischemic stroke prefrontal cortex

Abstract

Using immunohistochemical method, it was demonstrated that neurons of the cerebral cortex have the capacity to express hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1a) in normoxia. Intensity of this process is different for rats having unequal tolerance to hypoxia. Basal HIF-1a expression in neurons of rats with low-resistance (LR) to hypoxia is higher compared to rats with high-resistance (HR). Bilateral photochemically induced focal ischemic insult in the rat prefrontal cortex completely suppressed HIF-1a neuronal expression the in the ischemic zone and only partially — in the area of the penumbra. Neuronal injury was more pronounced in cortex of LR rats compared to HR rats. These findings suggest that functional significance of HIF-1a is greater in neurons of the cerebral cortex of LR rats compared to HR rats.