Pericyte contraction induced by oxidative-nitrative stress impairs capillary reflow despite successful opening of an occluded cerebral artery

Here we show that ischemia induces sustained contraction of pericytes on microvessels in the intact mouse brain. Pericytes remain contracted despite successful reopening of the middle cerebral artery after 2 h of ischemia. Pericyte contraction causes capillary constriction and obstructs erythrocyte flow. Suppression of oxidative-nitrative stress relieves pericyte contraction, reduces erythrocyte entrapment and restores microvascular patency; hence, tissue survival improves. In contrast, peroxynitrite application causes pericyte contraction. We also show that the microvessel wall is the major source of oxygen and nitrogen radicals causing ischemia and reperfusion-induced microvascular dysfunction. These findings point to a major but previously not recognized pathophysiological mechanism; ischemia and reperfusion-induced injury to pericytes may impair microcirculatory reflow and negatively affect survival by limiting substrate and drug delivery to tissue already under metabolic stress, despite recanalization of an occluded artery. Agents that can restore pericyte dysfunction and microvascular patency may increase the success of thrombolytic and neuroprotective treatments.