Appearance of immunoglobulin G and complement factor C3 in the striatum after transient focal ischemia in the rat.

The pathophysiological feature of brain ischemia-infarct was investigated using immunohistochemistry and Gallyas' silver staining after transient ischemia of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) in the rat. A very strong IgG infiltration with clear-cut borders was detected at one to 3 days in ischemic core areas (lateral striatum and adjacent cortex) that fell into porencephaly later. Complement factor C3 (C3) immunoreactivity (IR) appeared similarly while albumin IR more diffusely. Microglial activation could be observed at 1 day while rounded leukocyte-like elements at 3 days after reperfusion. Data suggest that the early appearance of the IgG/C3 IR bears particular importance after transient MCA ischemia as it could predict the ensuing porencephaly in the chronic stage.