Long-term neuroprotection induced by regional brain cooling with saline infusion into ischemic territory in rats: a behavioral analysis

Abstract

The neuroprotective effect of hypothermia has long been recognized. Our recent studies have demonstrated the significant therapeutic value of local brain cooling in the ischemic territory prior to reperfusion in stroke, with reduced infarction and inflammatory responses up to 48 hours of reperfusion. The goal of this study was to determine if local brain cooling, produced by infusion of cold saline, could induce long-term functional improvement after stroke. A hollow filament was used to block the middle cerebral artery (MCA) for 3 hours, and then to locally infuse the ischemic territory with 6 ml cold saline (20°C) for 10 minutes prior to reperfusion. This brain cooling infusion induced a significant (p < 0.01) decrease in neurologic deficits and significantly (p < 0.01) improved motor behavior in ischemic rats after 14 days of reperfusion, compared with ischemic rats without local cold saline infusion. This improvement continued for up to 28 days after reperfusion. No significant difference in motor performance was observed between the brain cooling infusion and normal control groups. Significant (p < 0.01) reductions in infarct volume were also evident. In conclusion, a local cerebral hypothermia induced by local saline infusion prior to reperfusion produced a long-term functional recovery after ischemic stroke. A therapeutic procedure, which combines prereperfusion infusion into an ischemic region with coincident cerebral hypothermia and perhaps subsequent recanalization of an occluded intracranial vessel, may improve the outcome for stroke patients.     

Progesterone is neuroprotective after transient middle cerebral artery occlusion in male rats

Progesterone (PROG) is a neurosteroid, possessing a variety of functions in the central nervous system. Exogenous PROG has been shown to reduce secondary neuronal loss in conjunction with attenuated brain edema after cerebral contusion and to reduce brain edema after focal cerebral ischemia. In the present study, we assessed the neuroprotective potential of PROG in a model of focal cerebral ischemia in the rat. Forty-eight male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to 4 groups, i.e. pretreatment with water soluble PROG, or dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) dissolved PROG, or DMSO as control or delayed treatment with DMSO dissolved PROG. Middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) was induced by insertion of an intraluminal suture and reperfusion was performed by withdrawing the suture. Pretreatments were initiated 30 min before MCAO via intraperitoneal injection. Delayed treatment was initiated upon reperfusion following 2 h of MCAO. Infarct volume, body weight loss, and neurological deficit were measured 48 h after MCAO. Pre- and delayed treatment with DMSO dissolved PROG resulted in a 39% (P < 0.05) and 34% (P < 0.05) reduction in cerebral infarction, respectively, along with decreased body weight loss and improved neurological function as compared to control animals, whereas no statistically significant reduction in infarct volume by water soluble PROG was found. We demonstrated that administration of PROG to the male rat before or 2 hours after onset of MCAO reduces ischemic cell damage and improves physiological and neurological function 2 days after stroke. These results suggests potential therapeutic properties of PROG in the management of stroke.     

丁苯酞预处理对大鼠脑缺血再灌注损伤的神经保护作用

目的研究丁苯酞预处理对大鼠局灶性脑缺血再灌注损伤的神经保护作用。方法健康成年SD雄性大鼠48只,随机分为假手术组、缺血再灌注组、丁苯酞预处理组,每组各16只。各组均灌胃5d后,采用线栓法制作大鼠局灶性脑缺血再灌注(MCAO)模型,缺血2h、再灌注24h,进行神经功能缺损评分,TTC染色及图像分析观察脑梗死体积,免疫组化法检测脑组织caspase-3、bcl-2表达的变化。结果与缺血再灌注组相比,丁苯酞预处理组神经缺损程度改善,梗死灶体积减少,caspase-3阳性细胞数量减少,bcl-2表达上调。结论丁苯酞可减轻缺血性脑血管病的发作,具有一定的神经保护作用。     

Normobaric hyperoxia retards the evolution of ischemic brain tissue toward infarction in a rat model of transient focal cerebral ischemia

Objectives: Oxygen therapy has been long considered a logical therapy for ischemic stroke. Our previous studies showed that normobaric hyperoxia (normobaric hyperoxia (NBO), 95% O₂ with 5% CO₂) treatment during ischemia reduced ischemic neuronal death and cerebromicrovascular injury in animal stroke models. In this study, we studied the effects of NBO on the evolution of ischemic brain tissue to infarction in a rat model of transient focal cerebral ischemia.

Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were given NBO (95% O₂) or normoxia (21% O₂) during 90-min filament occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (MCAO), followed by 3 or 22.5 h of reperfusion. 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining was used to evaluate the longitudinal evolution of tissue infarction.

Results： In normoxic rats, MCA-supplied cortical and striatal tissue was infarcted after 90-min MCAO with 22.5 h of reperfusion. NBO-treated rats showed a 61.4% reduction in infarct size and tissue infarction mainly occurred in the ischemic striatum. When infarction was assessed at an earlier time point, i.e. at 3 h of reperfusion, normoxic rats showed significantly smaller but mature infarction (no TTC staining, white color), with the infarction mainly occurring in the striatum. Unexpectedly, NBO-treated rats only showed immature lesion (partially stained by TTC, light white color) in the ischemic striatum, indicating that NBO treatment also retarded the process of neuronal death in the ischemic core. Of note, NBO-preserved striatal tissue underwent infarction after prolonged reperfusion.

Conclusions： Our results demonstrate that NBO treatment given during cerebral ischemia retards the evolution of ischemic brain tissue toward infarction and NBO-preserved cortical tissue survives better than NBO-preserved striatal tissue during the phase of reperfusion.     

Time-related changes in myeloperoxidase activity and leukotriene B4 receptor binding reflect leukocyte influx in cerebral focal stroke

In previous studies, we have used histological methods to characterize cellular changes, and validated the use of the myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity assay to quantitate increased neutrophil infiltration in ischemic stroke. We also identified increased leukotriene B₄ (LTB₄) binding sites as a potential marker for neutrophil infiltration into, focal ischemic tissue. However, these studies were conducted at only one time-point, 24 h after ischemia. In the present study, we examined the full time-course of MPO activity and LTB₄ receptor binding following middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) made permanently (PMCAO) or transiently (160 min followed by reperfusion; TMCAO) in spontaneously hypertensive rats, and compared the results to previously characterized histologic changes in these models. Ischemic and contralateral (control) cortical tissue samples were assayed for MPO (U/g wet wt) and [³H]LTB₄ receptor binding (fmol/mg protein). Following PMCAO, MPO activity significantly increased as early as 12 h and continued to increase over the next 5 d (p<0.05). Following TMCAO, MPO activity was significantly elevated already after only 6 h of reperfusion and also continued to increase over the next 5 d of reperfusion (p<0.05). LTB₄ receptor binding and MPO activity were highly correlated during periods when both measures increased together (i.e., 0.5–5dp<0.01). However, by 15 d post-MCAO, LTB₄ receptor binding remained elevated after MPO activity levels had returned to normal. This persistent LTB₄ binding was associated with the significant gliosis that was characterized previously to persist in these models. The time-course of increased MPO activity and initially increased LTB₄ binding post-MCAO correspond very well to our previous histological data that characterized the time-course for leukocyte infiltration under these conditions. Therefore, the increased MPO activity over time was associated with initial neutrophil and later mononuclear cell infiltration into ischemic tissue in these models. In addition, the present studies utilized histochemical analysis to demonstrate peroxidase activity in macrophages within the cerebral infarct following MCAO, thus validating that MPO activity originates from the later infiltrating mononuclear cells in addition to the early infiltrating neutrophils that had been previously characterized in the same manner. TMCAO produces a significantly larger and earlier increase in ischemic cortex MPO activity and a similar later increase in MPO activity compared to PMCAO treatment. Clearly, reperfusion of cerebral tissue following ischemia greatly exacerbates the degree of cerebral tissue inflammation. These biochemical assays, especially the MPO activity assay, have now been validated for quantitating the early and late phases of the cerebral inflammatory reaction to tissue injury.     

Neuroprotective effects of 6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tetramethylchroman-2-carboxylic acid (Trolox), an antioxidant in middle cerebral artery occlusion induced focal cerebral ischemia in rats

Abstract

Objectives: In the present study, we have investigated the neuroprotective potential of 6hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tetramethylchroman-2-carboxylic acid (Trolox), in middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) induced focal cerebral ischemia.

Methods: Sprague–Dawley rats were subjected to 2 hours of MCAO followed by 22 or 70 hours of reperfusion. After reperfusion, rats were evaluated for neurological deficits and cerebral infarction. Brain malondialdehyde (MDA) level and in situ terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) were also estimated.

Results: Focal cerebral ischemia produced a significant infarct volume and neurological scores as compared with sham-operated animals. Cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury was associated with an increase in lipid peroxidation in ipsilateral and contralateral hemisphere of brain along with an increase in TUNEL positive cells in ipsilateral hemisphere of brain sections indicating oxidative stress and DNA fragmentation, respectively. Trolox (10 and 30 mg/kg, i.p.) treatment significantly decreased neurological damage which was evident from the reduction in infarct volume and neurological score. Trolox (30 mg/kg) also attenuated oxidative stress and DNA fragmentation.

Discussion: Oxidative stress-induced neuronal damage is implicated in the pathophysiology of cerebral ischemia. Our study suggests that Trolox is a potent neuroprotective agent in focal cerebral ischemia and its neuroprotective effects may be attributed to the reduction of lipid peroxidation and DNA fragmentation.     

血管内皮生长因子和碱性成纤维细胞生长因子在缺血预处理大鼠局灶性脑缺血再灌注区域的表达

背景：脑缺血预处理可增加碱性成纤维细胞生长因子的表达,可能导致脑缺血耐受的产生。大鼠大脑中动脉缺血再灌注给予血管内皮生长因子能够起到神经保护作用。 目的：观察缺血预处理对缺血再灌注大鼠血管内皮生长因子和碱性成纤维细胞生长因子表达的影响。 方法：将SD大鼠随机分为缺血预处理组、模型组和假手术组。缺血预处理及模型组线栓法阻塞大脑中动脉制备脑缺血模型。预处理组在脑缺血-再灌注前3 d用插入尼龙线阻塞大脑中动脉,缺血2 h后再灌注22 h。模型组第一次手术将线栓前推5 mm,不阻断血流,其他同预处理组。假手术组仅插入尼龙线不阻塞大脑中动脉。用苏木精-伊红染色法观察3组间神经细胞变化。用抗生物素-生物素-过氧化物酶复合物法检测各组血管内皮生长因子和碱性成纤维细胞生长因子蛋白的表达。分别比较3组神经功能评分、光镜下脑缺血再灌注区神经细胞形态、血管内皮生长因子和碱性成纤维细胞生长因子的表达。 结果与结论：与模型组比较,预处理组神经功能评分明显低于模型组(P < 0.01)。光镜下观察结果显示,与模型组比较,预处理组缺血面积及缺血程度均减轻,血管内皮生长因子和碱性成纤维细胞生长因子表达均明显升高(P < 0.05)。结果提示缺血预处理可能通过增强血管内皮生长因子和碱性成纤维细胞生长因子而对缺血再灌注大鼠神经细胞起保护作用。     

阿托伐他汀对大鼠脑缺血再灌注后梗死灶周围中性粒细胞浸润和核转录因子-κB表达水平的影响

目的 观察阿托伐他汀对大鼠脑缺血再灌注后梗死灶周围中性粒细胞浸润以及核转录因子-κB表达水平的影响.方法 采用常规尼龙线栓法制备SD大鼠脑缺血再灌注模型,并将大鼠随机分为假手术组、大脑中动脉阻断再灌注(Middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion,MCAO/R)(对照)组和M...     

The influence of electro-acupuncture on neural plasticity in acute cerebral infarction

Abstract

Objective: To observe the effect of electro-acupuncture (EA) on dendritic spine and ephrin-A5 and to investigate the action of EA on neural plasticity after acute cerebral ischemic infarction.

Methods: Focal acute cerebral ischemia model was established by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) with electrocoagulation contralateral method. Ninety male Sprague–Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham operation (SO) group, MCAO group and EA treatment (ET) group. Golgi dying, double immunofluorescence method and RT-PCR were used to detect dendritic spine density, expression patterns of ephrin-A5 and the effect of EA on them at the end of the first, second and fourth week after ischemia.

Results: The dendritic spine density in MCAO group significantly decreased after ischemia (p<0.01). The dendritic spine density was raised in ET group in the corresponding time period (p<0.01) and among the ET groups. It was higher at the end of the fourth week than before (p<0.05). The signal of ephrin-A5 was detected mainly in neuron cytoplasm, and the mRNA expression in MCAO group and ET group increased compared to that in SO group (p<0.01). The mRNA expression in ET group at the first week was much higher than that in MCAO group (p<0.01). In ET groups, the mRNA expression of ephrin-A5 was down-regulated along with the time going (p<0.01).

Conclusion: It is possibly the regulation of the ephrin-A5 expression by which EA treatment improves the neural plasticity at the peri-infarct cerebral cortex in acute cerebral ischemia rat. There may be a time window in EA treatment for acute cerebral ischemia.     

Increased cerebral protein ISGylation after focal ischemia is neuroprotective

Addition of a small peptide called ISG15 is known as ISGylation, which is an ubiquitin (ub)-like posttranslational modification. We currently show that focal ischemia induced by transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in adult mice significantly induces cortical protein ISGylation between 6 and 24 hours reperfusion. With two-dimensional western blotting, 45 proteins were observed to be significantly increased in ISGylation (by 1.8- to 9.7-fold) after focal ischemia compared with sham control. Immunochemistry showed that ISGylated proteins are localized in neurons within the ipsilateral striatum and in astroglia within the peri-infarct cortex of ischemic mice. When subjected to transient MCAO, ISG15^−/− mice showed increased mortality, exacerbated infarction, and worsened neurologic recovery than did wild-type controls. In addition, mice lacking UBE1L (ub-activating enzyme E1-like protein, the first enzyme of the ISGylation cycle) also showed bigger infarcts when subjected to transient MCAO. Regional cerebral blood flow or other physiologic parameters were not significantly different in both knockouts compared with wild-type controls. These studies indicate that increased protein ISGylation might be an endogenous neuroprotective adaptation to minimize poststroke brain damage.     

Acute neurovascular unit protection by simvastatin in transient cerebral ischemia

Abstract

Acute vascular- and neuroprotective effects of simvastatin were evaluated in a rat model of transient, focal cerebral ischemia. Male, Wistar rats (n=12) underwent transient middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion for 3 hours followed by 3 hours of reperfusion. After 30 minutes of MCA occlusion, four rats each were subcutaneously injected with either 20 or 40 mg/kg of simvastatin. At the end of 3 hours of reperfusion, tissue injury and blood–brain barrier (BBB) opening were quantified by histology and [¹⁴C]-alpha-aminoisobutyric acid (AIB)-based quantitative autoradiography (QAR), respectively. Compared with untreated rats, those treated with simvastatin (20 mg/kg) had reduced volumes of AIB leakage, tissue pallor and distribution space for AIB (p<0.05). No additional effects were seen with the higher drug dose (40 mg/kg). These data suggest that the acute neuroprotective effects of statins are in part owing to attenuation of stroke-induced changes in BBB permeability.     

U0126介导T细胞亚型增殖在缺血性脑卒中的神经保护作用及机制研究

目的探究U0126在缺血性脑卒中的神经保护效应及其介导的T细胞在其中的作用。方法分别采用成年雄性C57BL/6J野生型(WT)小鼠和严重联合免疫缺陷(SCID)小鼠,随机分为sham组、sham+U0126 (2 g/L)组、MCAO组及MCAO+U0126组,每组各10只,经线栓法构建大脑中动脉短暂性闭塞模型,60 min后取出线栓,恢复血流。观察在有或无免疫缺陷的情况下U0126对脑梗死范围和脾脏增殖情况的影响。结果 U0126可显著减小小野生型小鼠脑缺血再灌注后的脑梗死体积(P 0. 05);减轻脑缺血再灌注损伤对脾脏增殖的破坏(P 0. 05)。但在T细胞缺陷的SCID小鼠中U0126的应用并未减小梗死面积,反而扩大了梗死范围(P 0. 05),而当ConA刺激T细胞增殖后U0126的保护作用得到恢复(P 0. 05),这表明T细胞可能是U0126的作用靶点。结论 U0126可能通过抑制ERK1/2信号通路并选择性促进T细胞增殖来介导其在缺血性脑卒中中的神经保护效应。     

Failure to improve the effect of thrombolysis by memantine in a rat embolic stroke model

Abstract

Objectives: Partial and delayed recanalization is a regular finding after thrombolysis in stroke patients who may benefit from additional therapy with neuroprotectants. To translate this scenario into an experiment, memantine was combined with thrombolysis in an embolic stroke model and tissue outcome was assessed in terms of complete and incomplete damage.

Methods: Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA, 5 mg/kg, b.w.) was administered 1.5 or 3.5 hours after embolic middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion in rats. In both groups, rats were assigned to additional therapy with memantine (10 mg/kg, i.p.) or saline injection. Ischemia and eventual reperfusion were continuously monitored by laser-Doppler flowmetry. Reperfusion was defined as a lasting increase in post-thrombolytic cerebral blood flow to >60% of baseline (complete) or to a lesser degree (partial). Experiments were terminated 6 hours post-occlusion to obtain quantitative histopathology.

Results: tPA induced complete or partial recanalization in 54% of treated animals. Successful reperfusion reduced total ischemic lesion volume by 42% compared with non-reperfused animals (p<0.05), but increased significantly the percentage of scattered neuronal injury from 25.6 (non-reperfusion) to 36.3% (reperfusion, p<0.05). Memantine did not improve the effect of tPA-induced recanalization on infarct morphology whether applied at 1.5 or 3.5 hours post-occlusion.

Discussion: We conclude from our experiments that add-on therapy with memantine did not alter the effect of thrombolysis in an embolic stroke model. Recanalization appears to be a prerequisite to confer neuroprotective effects.     

Cerebral blood flow and blood volume measured by magnetic resonance imaging bolus tracking after acute stroke in pigs: comparison with [(15)O]H(2)O positron emission tomography

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Early and accurate assessments of cerebral ischemia allow therapy to be tailored to individual stroke patients. We examined the feasibility of using a novel method for measuring cerebral blood flow (CBF) of ischemic tissue based on MRI after middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Moreover, the regional correlations between CBF and cerebral blood volume (CBV) were investigated in the regions with acute ischemic stroke. METHODS: CBF and CBV were measured before and after MCAO or reperfusion by positron emission tomography (PET) in 13 pigs. Just after the PET scans, CBF and CBV were measured by MR bolus tracking and were compared with results obtained by PET at 6 hours after permanent MCAO or reperfusion. The infarction was verified histologically. RESULTS: The MR method yielded parametric CBF and CBV maps with tissue contrast in good agreement with parametric PET images, which demonstrated hypoperfused and hyperperfused areas after MCAO or reperfusion. Both MRI and PET technology showed that CBF values below 60% of the contralateral value induced a reduction of CBV, which committed the tissue to infarction. CONCLUSIONS: The novel MR method provides accurate measurement of CBF and CBV in acute stroke and hence gives useful information for planning the appropriate therapeutic intervention.     

Neuroprotective effects of erythromycin on ischemic injury following permanent focal cerebral ischemia in rats

Objective: This study aims to determine if erythromycin provides neuroprotective effects against ischemic injury following permanent focal cerebral ischemia.

Methods: Sprague–Dawley rats were subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Each animal received a single subcutaneous injection of erythromycin lactobionate (EM, 50 mg/kg) or vehicle immediately after ischemia. The infarct volume, edema index and neurological performance were evaluated at 24 and 72 h after MCAO. The cerebral blood flow (CBF) was measured with an MRI system at 30 min after MCAO. TUNEL staining and immunohistochemical analyses for oxidative stress (4-HNE, 8-OHdG) and inflammation (Iba-1, TNF-α) in the cortex were conducted at 24 and 72 h after MCAO.

Results: The CBF did not differ between the EM-treated and vehicle-treated groups. The EM treatment significantly reduced the infarct volume (p < 0.01) at 24 and 72 h after MCAO and significantly reduced the edema index (p < 0.01) at 24 h. The EM treatment significantly improved the neurological deficit scores (p < 0.05) at 24 and 72 h. EM also significantly suppressed the accumulation of 4-HNE (p < 0.01) and 8-OHdG (p < 0.01) and markedly reduced Iba-1 (p < 0.01) and TNF-α expression (p < 0.05) at both time points. The EM treatment significantly reduced TUNEL-positive cells (p < 0.01) at both time points.

Conclusion: These findings suggest that EM can protect against the neuronal damage caused by cerebral ischemia by alleviating inflammation and reducing oxidant stress.     

ERK1/2信号通路对缺血后适应大鼠皮层的作用

目的研究脑缺血大鼠缺血后适应模型中大脑皮质的ERK1/2通路表达特点及应用ERK1/2特异性抑制剂PD98059后对缺血后适应神经保护作用的影响,研究缺血后适应是否通过ERK1/2信号通路介导对急性缺血性脑梗死再灌注后的神经保护作用。方法将20只SD大鼠随机分为假手术组、缺血2h再灌注组、缺血2h后适应组以及PD98059+缺血2h后适应组(PD+2h后适应组),每组5只,用线栓法建立急性大脑中动脉闭塞的缺血性脑梗死模型,4组分别进行不同形式的实验。对比4组大鼠再灌注1h、24h的神经功能评分及再灌注24h后的梗死体积。每组另增加15只大鼠,分别于再灌注后2h、6h、24h留取缺血大脑皮质;Western blot检测再灌注2h、6h、24h后总T-ERK1/2、P-ERK1/2表达。结果 PD+2h后适应组与缺血2h再灌注组神经功能缺损评分高于缺血2h后适应组,脑梗死体积大于缺血2h后适应组。缺血后适应组再灌注2h、6h、24h后P-ERK1/2表达明显高于缺血2h再灌注组及PD+2h后适应组;以上表明,缺血后适应通过ERK1/2信号通路减轻大鼠缺血性脑损伤,应用P-ERK1/2的阻滞剂PD98059后,阻断了缺血后适应的脑保护作用。结论通过对本实验研究数据的分析后发现,缺血后适应对大鼠急性缺血性脑梗死具有神经保护作用,应用ERK1/2特异性抑制剂PD98059后,缺血后适应神经保护效应减弱,说明缺血后适应对急性缺血性脑梗死再灌注损伤的保护作用与MAPK/ERK信号通路具有深层次紧密关系。     

Na(+)-dependent chloride transporter (NKCC1)-null mice exhibit less gray and white matter damage after focal cerebral ischemia.

We previously demonstrated that pharmacological inhibition of Na(+)-K(+)-Cl- cotransporter isoform 1 (NKCC1) is neuroprotective in in vivo and in vitro ischemic models. In this study, we investigated whether genetic ablation of NKCC1 provides neuroprotection after ischemia. Focal ischemia was induced by 2 hours occlusion of the left middle cerebral artery (MCAO) followed by 10 or 24 hours reperfusion. Two hours MCAO and ten or twenty-four hours reperfusion caused infarction (approximately 85 mm3) in NKCC1 wild-type (NKCC1(+/+)) mice. Infarction volume in NKCC1(-/-) mice was reduced by approximately 30% to 46%. Heterozygous mutant (NKCC1(+/-)) mice showed approximately 28% reduction in infarction (P>0.05). Two hours MCAO and twenty-four hours reperfusion led to a significant increase in brain edema in NKCC1(+/+) mice. In contrast, NKCC1(+/-) and NKCC1(-/-) mice exhibited approximately 50% less edema (P<0.05). Moreover, white matter damage was assessed by immunostaining of amyloid precursor protein (APP). An increase in APP was detected in NKCC1(+/+) mice after 2 hours MCAO and 10 hours reperfusion. However, NKCC1(-/-) mice exhibited significantly less APP accumulation (P<0.05). Oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) induced approximately 67% cell death and a fourfold increase in Na+ accumulation in cultured NKCC1(+/+) cortical neurons. OGD-mediated cell death and Na+ influx were significantly reduced in NKCC1(-/-) neurons (P<0.05). In addition, inhibition of NKCC1 by bumetanide resulted in similar protection in NKCC1(+/+) neurons and astrocytes (P<0.05). These results imply that stimulation of NKCC1 activity is important in ischemic neuronal damage.     

The protective effect of SCR15-18 on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury

Abstract

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Objectives: Soluble complement receptor type 1 (sCR1), a potent inhibitor of complement activation, has been shown to protect brain cells against cerebral ischemic/reperfusion (CI/R) injury due to its decay-accelerating activity for C3/C5 convertase and co-factor activity for C3b/C4b degradation. However, the effect of short consensus repeats (SCRs) 15-18, one of active domains of sCR1 with high C3b/C4b degradability, has not been demonstrated. Here, we investigated the protective effect of recombinant SCR_15-18 protein in middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO)-induced focal CI/R injury.

Methods: Recombinant SCR_15-18 protein was successfully expressed in Escherichia coli and refolded to its optimal bioactivity. Seventy-five Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned into three groups: sham-operated group, CI/R group, and SCR_15-18+CI/R group pretreated with 20 mg/kg SCR_15-18 protein. After 2 hours of MCAO and subsequent 24 hours of reperfusion, rats were evaluated for neurological deficits and cerebral infarction. Polymorphonuclear leukocyte accumulation, C3b deposition, and morphological changes in cerebral tissue were also estimated.

Results: SCR_15-18 pretreatment induced a 20% reduction of infarct size and an improvement of neurological function with 22·2% decrease of neurological deficit scores. Inhibition of cerebral neutrophils infiltration by SCR_15-18 was indicated from the reduction of myeloperoxidase activity in SCR_15-18+CI/R rats. Decreased C3b deposition and improved morphological changes were also found in cerebral tissue of SCR_15-18-treated rats.

Discussion: Our studies suggest a definitive moderately protective effect of SCR_15-18 against CI/R damage and provide preclinical experimental evidence supporting the possibility of using it as a small anti-complement therapeutic agent for CI/R injury therapy.