Although males and females are equally impacted by stroke, there are differences in recovery. Since oestrogen and progesterone have known neuroprotective effects, it is important to gauge their effects in stroke recovert. In a paper published in IBRO Neuroscience Reports, researchers have discovered differences between biomarkers such as glycogen levels in the brains of male and female mice.
“A stroke is caused by a loss of blood flow to brain cells. Without urgent intervention this may cause those cells to die because they constantly need energy and nutrients from the blood,” said Prof Nicole Sylvain, clinical research coordinator and lab manager at the University of Saskatchewan.
Sylvain and her colleagues are looking at treatments for post-stroke recovery that help supplement these energy losses. Using the Canadian Light Source (CLS) at the University of Saskatchewan (USask), the team was able to identify energy biomarkers in the brain, which could eventually inform clinicians about the effects of potential stroke treatments on brain recovery after a stroke.
The group’s recent study examined post-stroke differences between male and female mice, and found that female mice have higher amounts of glycogen in their brains. When the supply of glycogen is disrupted by stroke, the brain is severely impacted.
Most pre-clinical stroke research has been performed using male lab animals, with results usually generalised to both sexes. In clinical stoke cases, females have a higher incidence of ischaemic stroke and poorer outcomes, compared to males.
“We found that, for the most part, male data can be generalised for females, however, some of the metabolic markers we measured were actually different,” Sylvain said. “It’s really important to do the research on both sexes.”
It would be impossible for the team to detect the biomarkers without to the Mid-IR beamline.
“The only way to detect them in such an accurate way across the brain is with infrared imaging, so the CLS has been absolutely vital to our research.”
Source: University of Saskatchewan
