Abstract

Correlation analysis allows evaluating the statistical relationship between two random variables or two-dimensional data. Aim: The aim of the study is to analyse the correlations between biochemical indicators determined in the somatosensory cortex and hippocampus, morphological manifestations of neuroapoptosis, and parameters of CNS functioning in acute cerebral ischemia in rats. Materials and methods: To model an acute cerebral ischemia, ligatures were placed on the internal carotid artery bilaterally rats, after 20 minutes the blood flow through the specified vessels was restored. Experimental rat group received MSCs obtained from the human umbilical cord Wharton jelly at a dose 106 cells/rat. McGrow stroke-index scale, the functional state of the central nervous system, flow metric, immune histochemical and biochemical indicators in the tissue of the somatosensory cortex and hippocampus were analysed. Statistical processing of the results was carried out using the Statistica 7.0 computer program (StatSoft Inc., USA). Spearman’s rank correlation analysis was performed to determine correlational dependencies. Results: Biochemical indicators (in particular, lactate and glucose content, MDA, SDH, SOD and NOS activity determined in the brain tissue of the hippocampal and somatosensory cortical areas), reliably correlated with functional indicators of the central nervous system in rats both with and without brain ischemia.. After acute brain ischemia at day 7 (which corresponds to the sub-acute period of ischemia) specific direct correlation between protein content in brain tissue and morphological indicators appear as well as between protein content and neurological deficit both in the somatosensory cortex and in the hippocampus. At day 14 (the recovery period) after brain ischemia high specific inverse correlation takes place between MDA activity in the somatosensory cortex and morphological indicators in the hippocampus. Conclusion: 1. Multiplex correlations between biochemical and morphological indicators determined in the somatosensory cortex and hippocampus indicate their close functional interaction. 2. No new specific correlations emerged when human umbilical cord Wharton jelly MSCs were transfused for neuro-protection immediately after brain reperfusion beginning, but some correlational dependencies disappeared.

Keywords

correlation analysis, ischemia-reperfusion, rats, somatosensory cortex, hippocampus, mesenchymal stromal cells