Post‐stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) is a major source of morbidity and mortality after stroke, but the pathological mechanisms remain unclear. Previous studies have demonstrated that the CX3CR1 receptor plays a crucial role in maintaining an early protective microenvironment after stroke, but whether it persistently influences cognitive dysfunction in the chronic phase requires further investigation.
Mouse was used to establish a middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO)/reperfusion model to study PSCI. Cognitive function was assessed by the Morris water maze (MWM) and the novel object recognition test. Neurogenesis was assessed by immunofluorescence staining with Nestin +/Ki67 + and DCX +/BrdU + double‐positive cells. The cerebral damage was monitored by [ 18F]‐DPA‐714 positron emission tomography, Nissel, and TTC staining. The pyroptosis was histologically, biochemically, and electron microscopically examined.
Upon MCAO, at 28 to 35 days, CX3CR1 knockout (CX3CR1 −/−) mice had better cognitive behavioral performance both in MWM and novel object recognition test than their CX3CR1 +/− counterparts. Upon MCAO, at 7 days, CX3CR1 −/− mice increased the numbers of Nestin +/Ki67 + and DCX +/BrdU + cells, and meanwhile it decreased the protein expression of GSDMD, NLRP3 inflammasome subunit, caspase‐1, mature IL‐1β/IL‐18, and p‐P65 in the hippocampus as compared with CX3CR1 +/− mice. In addition, CX3CR1 −/− mice could reverse infarct volume in the hippocampus region post‐stroke.