Decoding hippocampal subfield and glial responses in ischemia using single-cell transcriptomics.

BACKGROUND

Stroke affects more than 12 million individuals worldwide annually, leading to lasting physical and cognitive impairments. The peri-infarct environment in the central nervous system, comprising glial and blood vessel cells, contributes to stroke progression. The hippocampal CA1 region is particularly vulnerable to ischemia, whereas the adjacent CA3-DG region exhibits different responses. Understanding the cellular and molecular alterations in these regions before and after ischemic insult can provide insights into stroke pathology and recovery mechanisms.

METHODS

We conducted single-cell RNA sequencing on Sprague-Dawley rats subjected to four-vessel occlusion (4-VO) surgery, a model of transient global cerebral ischemia, and compared them with normal control rats. Cellular composition and molecular signatures of the hippocampal CA1 and CA3-DG regions were analyzed under both ischemic and sham conditions to determine differences in glial and vascular cell responses.

RESULTS

Following stroke, there was an elevation in pro-inflammatory microglial subtypes, with distinct differences in microglial pathways depending on the hippocampal region. A unique oligodendrocyte subtype emerged in the post-ischemic hippocampus that was not present under normal conditions. Astrocytes maintained clear cluster characteristics under both normal and ischemic conditions without significant differences. Additionally, the proportion of cd74-positive pericytes increased specifically in the CA3-DG subfield after the 4-VO procedure.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings highlight the diverse molecular signatures and functional differences of cells in specific hippocampal regions during global cerebral ischemia. Differences in cellular functions and composition between CA1 and CA3-DG subfields suggest that glial heterogeneity may contribute to regional differences in ischemic vulnerability. This study provides new insights into the role of glial and vascular cell populations in stroke pathology, which may inform future therapeutic strategies.