Brain Bank tissue samples unlock key findings about stroke-induced damage and repair

A new study by researchers from the Molecular Medicine Department of the SDU sheds light on one of the most serious consequences of a stroke: damage to the ‘cables’ of the brain – the so -called nerve fibers – which lead to permanent limitations. The study, which is based on unique tissue samples of the Danish brain bank at SDU, can release the way for new treatments that help the brain to restore itself.

The brain tries to repair damage

A stroke arises when the blood supply to a part of the brain is blocked, leading to brain damage. After an injury, the brain tries to restore the damaged nerve fibers by restoring their insulating layer, called myelin. Unfortunately, the recovery process often only partially succeeds, which means that many patients experience permanent damage to their physical and mental functions. According to Professor Kate Lykke Lambertsen, one of the main authors of the study, the brain has the means to recover themselves:

-We must find ways to help the cells complete their work, even under difficult circumstances.

The researchers have therefore concentrated on the way in which inflammatory conditions hinder reconstruction. The study has identified a certain type of cell in the brain that plays a key role in this process. These cells work on the reconstruction of myelin, but inflammatory conditions often block their efforts.

How researchers used the brain collection

-With the help of the brain collection we can map exactly which parts of the brain are most active in the recovery process, Professor Kate Lykke Lambertsen explains.

This mapping has enabled researchers to analyze tissue samples of the Danish brain bank and gain a deeper insight into the mechanisms that control the ability of the brain to cure themselves.

Through advanced coloring techniques, known as immunohistochemistry, the researchers have succeeded in detecting specific cells that play a central role in the reconstruction of myelin in the damaged parts of the brain.

The samples were analyzed to distinguish between different parts of the brain, including the infarction core (the most damaged area), the peri-infarction area (surrounding tissue where reconstruction is active) and tissue that seems unaffected.

The analysis provided insight into where repair cells accumulate and how their activity varies depending on gender and time since the stroke.

Women and men respond differently

An interesting discovery in the research is that the brains of women and men respond differently to injuries.

-The differences underline the importance of future treatments that are more targeted and take into account the gender and individual needs of the patient, says Kate Lykke Lambertsen.

In women, it seems that inflammatory disorders can prevent cells from repairing damage, while men are a little better able to initiate the recovery process. This difference can explain why women often experience greater problems after a stroke.

The brain collection at SDU is the key to progress

The researchers behind the research emphasize that the discoveries could not have been made without the Danish brain bank of SDU. The collection consists of tissue samples of people who are used to understand brain diseases at a detailed level.

With access to this resource, researchers can develop the mechanisms behind diseases such as stroke investigations and new treatment strategies.