Reassessment of cerebral capillary changes in acute global ischemia and their relationship to the "no-reflow phenomenon".

Electron and light microscopic studies were performed on rabbit brain to re-examine the structural changes of endothelial cells and perivascular glia following ischemia. Although swelling of perivascular glia occurred, earlier findings of extreme perivascular glial swelling and bleb formation leading to luminal collapse and plugging could not be confirmed. Ischemic brains, however, had a higher proportion of small-diameter capillaries than controls. It is felt that structural changes in ischemic capillary walls in themselves are not sufficient to explain failed cerebral reperfusion, or the no-reflow phenomenon.