Delayed neuronal cell death and microglial cell reactivity in the CA1 region of the rat hippocampus in the cardiac arrest model

Morphological changes in the CA1 region of the hippocampus in the rat cardiac arrest model were studied with the in situ nick-end labeling (TUNEL) method and light and electron microscopy. The TUNEL-positive pyramidal cells first appeared on day 1, increased in number with time, and reached a peak at 7 days after recirculation. At the ultrastructural level, cell shrinkage, nuclear fragmentation, and an increased number of atuophagic vacuoles of the pyramidal cells were observed in the CA1 region. The brief ischemia activates the microglial cells in the CA1 region, and these cells were found to increase in number with time. The microglial cells were seen to adhere to degenerating pyramidal cells and to phagocytose the apoptotic neurons selectively.