Stroke Flashcards
If blood supply to the brain stops, how long will its energy resources last?
5 minutes
What is global ischaemia?
Ischaemia affecting the entire brain or forebrain.
What is focal ischaemia?
Ischaemia involving a single artery such as the middle cerebral artery (MCA)
Why does it take 24-72 hours to see which neurons have survived the ischaemia?
Slow due to apoptosis based damage, rather than necrosis.
Which animal models have been used to study stroke?
Rats
How can a stroke be induced in a rat?
Can introduce a filament or blood clot.
Does white matter or grey matter have a higher blood flow?
Grey matter
How long after a stroke can a T2 scan take place?
24 hours.
What percentage of CNS synapses are glutamatergic?
70%
How many subunits do glutamate receptors have?
4
How are NMDA receptors activated?
Both glutamate and glycine are required to bind to their recognition sites for the NMDA receptor to become activated.
How can ischaemic damage be reduced?
By an NMDA receptor antagonist.
What is the only drug currently licensed for acute stroke?
Actilyse (Alteplase)
A thrombolytic, tissue plasminogen activator.
How can stroke risk be reduced?
By statins and blood pressure lowering therapies such as ACE inhibitors and diuretics.
What are the two types of stroke?
Ischaemic (80%)
Haemorrhagic (20%)
What is a stroke?
Sudden death of brain tissue due to lack of oxygen and glucose delivery.
What happens in an ischaemic stroke?
Blockage in the brain, blood can’t get to cells, cells die.
What happens in a haemorrhagic stroke?
Bleed on the brain, blood accumulates, increased pressure on brain tissue, higher mortality rate.
Which two sources does the brain receive blood from?
Internal carotid arteries
Vertebral arteries.
What do the internal carotid arteries branch into?
Middle cerebral artery
Anterior cerebral artery
What do the right and left vertebral arteries join together to form?
Basilar artery
If one of the main carotid or vertebral arteries are blocked, how can distal smaller arteries receive blood?
Through the circle of Willis.
What is the normal cerebral blood flow?
45-50ml/100g/min