Estrogen intervention in microvascular morphology and choline acetyltransferase expression in rat hippocampal neurons in chronic cerebral ischemia

摘要

We observed dynamic changes in microvessels and a protective effect of estrogen on chronic cerebral ischemia ovariectomized rat models established through permanent occlusion of bilateral carotid arteries at 7,14 and 21 days.The results revealed that estrogen improved microvasculature in the hippocampus of chronic cerebral ischemic rats,upregulated Bcl-2 protein expression,downregulated Bax protein expression,increased choline acetyltransferase expression in hippocampal cholinergic neurons,and suppressed hippocampal neuronal apoptosis.These findings indicate that estrogen can protect hippocampal neurons in rats with chronic cerebral ischemia.