Delayed neuronal death is induced without postischemic hyperexcitability: continuous multiple-unit recording from ischemic CA1 neurons.

It has been proposed that neuronal hyperexcitability during postischemic chronic stage mediates delayed neuronal death in the hippocampal CA1 region. In the present study, multiple-unit spike discharges were continuously recorded from hippocampal CA1 neurons of the awake Mongolian gerbil for 5 days after 5 min of ischemia. Before ischemia, CA1 neurons showed burst-like spike discharges (so-called complex spikes). Spike discharges disappeared 8-40 s after the onset of 5-min ischemia and reappeared 5-30 min after recirculation. The frequency of discharges gradually increased but did not return to the preischemic level. The amplitude of the spike discharges was smaller than that recorded before ischemia and the number of spikes composing the burst-like discharges diminished. CA1 neurons did not show any hyperexcitability for 5 days. However, histological examinations revealed widespread neuronal death in the CA1 region. These results indicate that the delayed neuronal death in the hippocampal CA1 region is induced without postischemic neuronal hyperexcitability.