Reactive gliosis and neuroinflammation in rats with communicating hydrocephalus

Graphical abstract We confirmed that the degrees of astrocytpsis and microgliosis are positively related to the development of hydrocephalus and indicate a detrimental role of glial cells in hydrocephalus despite of the protective role of reactive gliosis. These results indicate that the cause of hydrocephalus is the insult of the whole CSF system and may lead to new treatment strategies by inhibiting the reactive astrocytosis and microgliosis to modulate inflammation in hydrocephalic brain, thereby, brain function damage can be mitigated and even the hydrocephalus process can be delayed. Highlights ► Animals with kaolin injection ventricle developed communicating hydrocephalus. ► The insult of the whole CSF system caused hydrocephalus. ► Astrocytes, microgliosis and inflammation could be key factors of hydrocephalus. ► Astrocytes were positively correlated with the severity of ventricular dilatation.