Moderate or deep local hypothermia does not prevent the onset of ischemia-induced dendritic damage

We studied the acute (up to 2 hours after reperfusion) effects of localized cortical hypothermia on ischemia-induced dendritic structural damage. Moderate (31 degrees C) and deep (22 degrees C) hypothermia delays, but does not block the onset of dendritic blebbing or spine loss during global ischemia in mouse in vivo. Hypothermic treatment promoted more consistent recovery of dendritic structure and spines during reperfusion. These results suggest that those using therapeutic hypothermia will need to consider that it does not spare neurons from structural changes that are the result of ischemia, but hypothermia may interact with mechanisms that control the onset of damage and recovery during reperfusion. Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow & Metabolism (2012) 32, 437-442; doi: 10.1038/jcbfm.2011.178; published online 14 December 2011