Abstract W P239: Exposure to Airborne Particulate Matter from Vehicular Exhaust Results in Progression of Brain Injury Following Experimental Stroke

Inflammation is believed to play an important role in the progression of acute stroke. Air pollution is a potent environmental source of inflammation and oxidative stress. We sought to examine the impact of inhalation of airborne particulate matter (PM) derived from urban traffic on the progression of brain injury following acute stroke. Urban PM was collected with a particle sampler situated near the CA-110 Freeway in Los Angeles. Collected aerosols represented a mix of fresh PM, predominantly from vehicular traffic. These samples were then distilled to pollutant nanoparticles (<200 nm) and re-aerosolized for administration to mice through exposure chambers. Adult mice were exposed to aerosolized PM (n=12) or filtered air (n=12) for forty-five cumulative hours and then underwent middle cerebral artery ischemia (35 minutes)/ reperfusion (I/R). Infarct volumes and neurological function were compared between mice exposed to PM and filtered air on postoperative day 1. Reperfusion was assessed by percent reco...