Effect of ischemia induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion on superoxide dismutase activity in rat brain

Acute cerebral ischemia increases the generation of free radicals, causing cell damage, and theoretically may decrease the activity of the scavenging enzyme superoxide dismutase. To investigate the role of superoxide dismutase in cerebral ischemia, we used a model of middle cerebral artery occlusion in rats. In this model an infarct is produced in the pyriform and frontoparietal cortices, extending into the lateral basal ganglia. We measured superoxide dismutase activity by using the xanthine oxidase cytochrome c reduction assay in these areas of rat brains. Tissue samples were analyzed 20 minutes, 2, 6, or 24 hours, or 7 days after middle cerebral artery occlusion and 2 or 24 hours or 7 days after sham operation (n = 8-10 at each time). There was no significant change in superoxide dismutase activity relative to control values in any brain area at any time up to 24 hours after surgery. However, 7 days after middle cerebral artery occlusion a significant decline in superoxide dismutase activity, to 55%-68% (p less than 0.05) of that in unoperated controls, was observed in all brain areas. Our results do not support an important role for changes in the activity of endogenous superoxide dismutase during the acute phase of cerebral ischemia. However, the decrease in superoxide dismutase activity 7 days after ischemia could indicate ongoing additional damage to peri-infarct tissue.     

Effect of plasma glucose on infarct size in focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion

Although hyperglycemia has been shown to consistently exacerbate ischemia brain injury following global or diffuse cerebral ischemia, the effect of hyperglycemia in unilateral focal cerebral ischemia remains controversial. Recent advances in thrombolytic therapy have enhanced the clinical significance of postischemic reperfusion. We studied the effect of plasma glucose on ischemic brain injury in a newly developed focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion model. Rats allowed free access to food until ischemic insult developed intra- and postischemic hyperglycemia and cortical infarction. Rats fasted for 24 hours had blunted hyperglycemic responses. Infarct volumes were correspondingly smaller. The protective effect of fasting was partially abolished by glucose loading during ischemia to induce intra-ischemic hyperglycemia. Glucose loading immediately or 3 hours after focal cerebral ischemia did not significantly alter the protective effect of fasting. Insulin treatment in fed rats before ischemia also reduced hyperglycemic responses and infarct volume. Timing of insulin treatment was also critical in the reduction of ischemic injury. These findings indicate that plasma glucose during the period of ischemia is an important determinant of brain injury in focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion and there is a therapeutic window for normalization of plasma glucose to be efficacious.     

Protective effect of oxysophoridine on cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury in mice

Oxysophoridine, a new alkaloid extracted from Sophora alopecuroides L., has been shown to have a protective effect against ischemic brain damage. In this study, a focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury model was established using middle cerebral artery occlusion in mice. Both 62.5, 125, and 250 mg/kg oxysophoridine, via intraperitoneal injection, and 6 mg/kg nimodipine, via intragastric administration, were administered daily for 7 days before modeling. After 24 hours of reperfusion, mice were tested for neurological deficit, cerebral infarct size was assessed and brain tissue was collected. Results showed that oxysophoridine at 125, 250 mg/kg and 6 mg/kg nimodipine could reduce neurological deficit scores, cerebral infarct size and brain water content in mice. These results provided evidence that oxysophoridine plays a protective role in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury. In addition, oxysophoridine at 62.5, 125, and 250 mg/kg and 6 mg/kg nimodipine increased adenosine-triphosphate content, and decreased malondialdehyde and nitric oxide content. These compounds enhanced the activities of glutathione-peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, catalase, and lactate dehydrogenase, and decreased the activity of nitric oxide synthase. Protein and mRNA expression levels of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor subunit NR1 were markedly inhibited in the presence of 250 mg/kg oxysophoridine and 6 mg/kg nimodipine. Our experimental findings indicated that oxysophoridine has a neuroprotective effect against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury in mice, and that the effect may be due to its ability to inhibit oxidative stress and expression of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor subunit NR1.     

Temporal profile of the superoxide dismutase and the ascorbic acid in focal cerebral ischemia]

It has been proposed that free radical reactions are involved in ischemic brain damage. Since irreversible pathological changes occurs very early phase of the focal ischemia and the ischemic brain edema reaches its peak at about 2 days of ischemia, the free radical reactions must take place before these changes. Superoxide dismutase is a famous enzyme that dismutase superoxide anion, which is believed to be one of the initiator of the free radical reactions. If superoxide anion plays a pivotal role in the genesis of pathological ischemic brain damage and edema, the activity of the enzyme may decrease in the early phase of ischemia. Ascorbic acid is also known to be a scavenger of superoxide anion, and brain tissue contains it in a high concentration. We investigated the changes in superoxide dismutase activity and concentration of reduced ascorbate in focal ischemia. Focal ischemia was produced in rats by permanent occlusion of the left middle cerebral artery. The animals were decapitated 30 minutes, 4, 24, and 48 hours after the operation. Middle cerebral artery territory of each cerebral hemisphere was homogenized and centrifuged with phosphate buffer. The supernatant was divided into two aliquots; one was dialyzed to remove ascorbate and the other was not. The SOD activity was measured by electron-spin-resonance (ESR) spin trapping method, and the ascorbic acid concentration was measured by high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection (HPLC-ECD). Protein concentration was measured by Lowry's method. The enzyme activity was expressed as unit/mg protein, and the ascorbic acid concentration was expressed as microgram/g tissue. The SOD activity decreased markedly by dialysis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Protective effect of ginkgo proanthocyanidins against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury associated with its antioxidant effects

Proanthocyanidins have been shown to effectively protect ischemic neurons, but its mechanism remains poorly understood. Ginkgo proan-thocyanidins (20, 40, 80 mg/kg) were intraperitoneally administered 1, 24, 48 and 72 hours before reperfusion. Results showed that ginkgo proanthocyanidins could effectively mitigate neurological disorders, shorten infarct volume, increase superoxide dismutase activity, and de-crease malondialdehyde and nitric oxide contents. Simultaneously, the study on grape seed proanthocyanidins (40 mg/kg) conifrmed that different sources of proanthocyanidins have a similar effect. The neurological outcomes of ginkgo proanthocyanidins were similar to that of nimodipine in the treatment of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury. Our results suggest that ginkgo proanthocyanidins can effectively lessen cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury and protect ischemic brain tissue and these effects are associated with antioxidant properties.     

血管紧张素-(1-7)对大鼠局灶性脑缺血再灌注损伤的神经保护作用

目的 探讨血管紧张素-(1-7)[Ang-(1-7)]对大鼠局灶性脑缺血再灌注损伤的保护作用.方法 对Sprague-Dawley(SD)大鼠制备大脑中动脉梗死(MCAO)模型和假手术模型,并于再灌注24 h和48 h以微型渗透泵从侧脑室给予Ang-(1-7)(100 pmol,0.5 μL/h)或人工脑脊液(aCSF)(0.5 μL/h),由此分组为假手术组(假手术+aCSF)、Ang-(1-7)治疗组[MCAO+Ang-(1-7)]和aCSF治疗组(MCAO+aCSF).检测实验大鼠神经功能评分、再灌注48 h后脑水肿以及再灌注24 h后脑梗死体积,并以试剂盒测定再灌注24 h和48 h后缺血脑组织中超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性和丙二醛(MDA)含量,以原位末端标记法(TUNEL)检测再灌注48 h后脑梗死灶周围组织神经细胞凋亡数.结果 Ang-(1-7)治疗MCAO模型大鼠,能显著改善神经功能评分(P<0.05)、缩小脑梗死体积(P<0.05)、降低组织MDA含量(P<0.05)、提高组织SOD活性(P<0.01),并明显减少脑梗死灶周围组织神经细胞凋亡数(P<0.01),但对脑组织含水量无明显影响作用.结论 Ang-(1-7)可能通过抗氧化应急反应、减轻神经细胞凋亡程度等实现治疗缺血再灌注损伤、神经保护作用.     

Allopurinol and dimethylthiourea reduce brain infarction following middle cerebral artery occlusion in rats

Free radicals have been shown to play an important role in ischemia-reperfusion injury in several organ systems; however, the role of free radicals in central nervous system ischemia has been less well studied. Many potential free radical-generating systems exist. The primary products of these reactions, superoxide and hydrogen peroxide, may combine to produce hydroxyl radicals. Of the many potential sources of free radical generation, the enzyme xanthine oxidase has been shown to be important in ischemia in noncerebral tissue. We investigated the effect of the hydroxyl radical scavenger dimethylthiourea and the xanthine oxidase inhibitor allopurinol on infarct volume in a model of continuous partial ischemia. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with dimethylthiourea or allopurinol before middle cerebral artery occlusion. Infarct volume was measured by triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining of brains removed 3 or 24 hours after occlusion. Stroke volume was reduced by 30% after dimethylthiourea treatment and by 32-35% after allopurinol treatment. At 24 hours after stroke, cortical tissue was more effectively protected than caudate tissue with both agents. Pretreatment with dimethylthiourea and allopurinol also significantly reduced cerebral edema formation and improved blood-brain barrier function as measured by fluorescein uptake. Our results imply that hydroxyl radicals are important in tissue injury secondary to partial cerebral ischemia and that xanthine oxidase may be the primary source of these radicals.     

神经节苷脂对大鼠脑缺血再灌注损伤的脑保护作用

目的探讨神经节苷脂对大鼠脑缺血再灌注损伤的脑保护作用。方法采用线栓法制作缺血再灌注大鼠模型,分别用神经节苷脂(治疗组)和生理盐水(对照组)腹腔注射。观察两组大鼠缺血90min、缺血90min再灌注24h的脑梗死面积、神经功能缺损程度、细胞凋亡数、细胞凋亡率。结果治疗组大鼠于相同时间点脑梗死面积较对照组明显减小,仅表现轻度的神经功能缺损,且神经细胞的凋亡数较对照组显著减少(均P<0.01)。结论神经节苷脂能明显减小大鼠实验性脑缺血的脑梗死面积,减轻脑缺血再灌注后神经功能缺损程度,显著减轻缺血区神经元损害,具有显著的脑保护作用。     

Continuous nimodipine treatment attenuates cortical infarction in rats subjected to 24 hours of focal cerebral ischemia

Focal cerebral infarction and edema were measured in rats (Wistar, Fisher 344, and spontaneously hypertensive strains) pretreated with nimodipine (2 micrograms/kg/min i.v.) or its vehicle and subjected to the tandem occlusion of the middle cerebral and common carotid arteries. Animals awoke from anesthesia 10-15 min after onset of ischemia and continued to receive treatment over a 24-h survival period. Cortical infarction and edema were quantified by image analysis of frozen brain sections processed for histology. Nimodipine-treated rats developed 20-60% smaller cortical infarct volumes than controls (p less than 0.002). Cortical edema was reduced proportionately to the decrease in infarct volume and constituted approximately 36% of the infarct volume. Nimodipine caused a mild hypotensive response that did not aggravate ischemic brain damage. The results indicate that continuous nimodipine treatment, started before induction of focal cerebral ischemia, can attenuate ischemic brain damage and edema as late as 24 h after the onset of ischemia.     

Administration of N-acetylcysteine after focal cerebral ischemia protects brain and reduces inflammation in a rat model of experimental stroke

Free radicals and inflammatory mediators are involved in transient focal cerebral ischemia (FCI). Preadministration of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) has been found to attenuate the cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in a rat model of experimental stroke. This study was undertaken to investigate the neuroprotective potential of NAC administered after ischemic events in experimental stroke. FCI was induced for 30 min by occluding the middle cerebral artery (MCA). NAC (150 mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally at the time of reperfusion followed by another dose 6 hr later. Animals were sacrificed after 24 hr of reperfusion. The cerebral infarct consistently involved the cortex and striatum. Infarction was assessed by staining the brain sections with 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride. Animals treated with NAC showed a significant reduction in infarct area and infarct volume and an improvement in neurologic scores and glutathione level. Reduction in infarction was significant even when a single dose of NAC was administered at 6 hr of reperfusion. Immunohistochemical and quantitative real-time PCR studies demonstrated a reduction in the expression of proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) and interleukin 1beta (IL-1beta) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in NAC compared to that in vehicle-treated animals. The expression of activated macrophage/microglia (ED1) and apoptotic cell death in ischemic brain was also reduced by NAC treatment. These results indicate that in a rat model of experimental stroke, administration of NAC even after ischemia onset protected the brain from free radical injury, apoptosis, and inflammation, with a wide treatment window.     

Temporal thresholds for neocortical infarction in rats subjected to reversible focal cerebral ischemia.

We investigated the temporal threshold for focal cerebral infarction in the spontaneously hypertensive rat. The right middle cerebral artery and common carotid artery were occluded for 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 24 hours, and all the animals were sacrificed 24 hours after the onset of ischemia. Cortical infarct volumes and edema volumes were quantified in serial frozen sections of hematoxylin and eosin-stained tissue using image analysis. Upon occlusion, blood flow in the core of the ischemic zone, measured with laser-Doppler flowmetry, fell to a mean +/- standard deviation of 21 +/- 7% of the preocclusion baseline value (n = 26). During the first hour of ischemia, blood flow in the densely ischemic zone rose to 27 +/- 8% of baseline (n = 25). Release of the middle cerebral artery and common carotid artery occlusions rapidly restored cortical blood flow to 213 +/- 83% of baseline (n = 21). Focal ischemia of 1 hour's duration caused little or no infarction, while ischemic intervals of 2 and 3 hours produced successively larger volumes of infarcted cortex. Ischemic intervals of 3-4 hours' duration followed by approximately 20 hours of recirculation yielded infarct volumes that were not significantly different from those after 24 hours of permanent focal ischemia. The results indicate that 3-4 hours of focal cerebral ischemia in this rat model is sufficient to attain maximal infarction and suggest that recirculation or pharmacological interventions after this time will provide little benefit.     

尼莫地平和超氧化物歧化酶联合抗缺血/再灌注损伤作用研究

目的研究尼莫地平和超氧化物歧化酶(superoxide dismutase,SOD)联合治疗大鼠脑缺血/再灌注损伤的神经保护作用。方法将45只成年雄性Wistar大鼠随机分成4组,尼莫地平组、超氧化物歧化酶组、联合药物(尼莫地平加超氧化物歧化酶)组和对照组。应用线栓法制作大鼠MCAO模型,缺血后4h行再灌注。于再灌注前20min、再灌注后12h和36h尾静脉给药;48h后计算大鼠存活率、行神经功能缺损评分、脑血流量和脑梗死体积测定。结果①大鼠存活率分别为:41.7%、27.3%、70.0%和25.0%。联合药物组较对照组的存活率明显增加(P<0.05)。②神经功能缺损评分为:4.39±0.197、4.47±0.492、3.79±0.521和4.67±0.709。联合药物组较对照组的神经功能缺损明显减少(P<0.01),较尼莫地平或SOD组也明显减少(P<0.05)。③脑组织血流量为:96±23%、81±19%、129±47%和79±41%。与对照组相比三个药物组的脑血流量均增加(P<0.05)。联合药物组的脑血流量增加又明显高于单药治疗组(P<0.05)。④梗死体积为:261.0±55.2、261.2±59.3、128.5±58.4和383.5±58.8mm3。联合药物组梗死体积明显小于对照组(P<0.05)和两个单药组(P<0.01,P<0.05)。结论尼莫地平和超氧化物歧化酶联合用药对脑缺血/再灌注损伤具有神经保护作用,并且优于单一药物治疗。     

Chemokine receptor antagonist peptide, viral MIP-II, protects the brain against focal cerebral ischemia in mice.

The authors previously reported that mRNA for macrophage inflammatory protein-1alpha (MIP-1 alpha), a member of the CC chemokines, was expressed in glial cells after focal cerebral ischemia in rats. However, the function of chemokines in the ischemic brain remains unclear. Recently, viral macrophage inflammatory protein-II (vMIP-II), a chemokine analogue encoded by human herpesvirus-8 DNA, has been demonstrated to have antagonistic activity at several chemokine receptors. In the present study, the effects of vMIP-II and MIP-1alpha on ischemic brain injury were examined in mice to elucidate the roles of chemokines endogenously produced in the ischemic brain. Intracerebroventricular injection of vMIP-II (0.01-1 microg) reduced infarct volume in a dose-dependent manner when examined 48 hours after 1-hour middle cerebral artery occlusion followed by reperfusion. However, 1 microg MIP-1alpha increased infarct volume in the cortical region. These results supported the possibility that chemokines endogenously produced in the brain are involved in ischemic injury, and that chemokine receptors are potential targets for therapeutic intervention of stroke.     

CoQ10 fails to protect brain against focal and global ischemia in rats

OBJECTIVE: Release of oxygen free radicals occurs following cerebral ischemia. Studies show that oxygen free radicals mediate ischemic brain injury. CoQ10 is a potent free radical scavenger and may offset brain injury associated with reperfusion. We tested exogeneous CoQ10 as a neuroprotectant in rats following both global and focal ischemic insults. METHODS: Rats were subjected to either 4-vessel occlusion ischemia (4-VO, 10 min occlusion, 7-day survival) or middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO, 120 min-occlusion, 22.5 h survival). Regional cerebral blood flows (rCBF) and physiological variables such as blood pressure, pO2, pCO2, plasma glucose and hematocrit were monitored and measured in focal ischemia. The animals were randomized to receive treatments of either phosphate buffered saline (PBS) vehicle or CoQ10 following global or focal ischemia. Injection times were at the end of ischemia and 3 h later for both models of ischemia. Histological outcomes are expressed as a percentage of hippocampal CA(1) cell injury in global ischemia or percentage of cortical infarct over that of non-ischemic hemisphere in focal ischemia. RESULTS: In global ischemia, animals treated with PBS vehicle and CoQ10 had 86+/-5% (n=8) and 83+/-10% (n=8), respectively, of hippocampal CA(1) cell injury (P>0.05). The percentage of infarct volumes in animals following focal ischemia were 23+/-9% (control, n=10) and 25+/-9% (CoQ10, n=10). There were no temperature or physiological differences between the two treatment groups. CONCLUSION: Acute treatment with CoQ10 via intraperitoneal injection does not prevent neuronal injuries following global and focal ischemia.     

Nimodipine pretreatment improves cerebral blood flow and reduces brain edema in conscious rats subjected to focal cerebral ischemia

The effect of nimodipine pretreatment on CBF and brain edema was studied in conscious rats subjected to 2.5 h of focal cortical ischemia. An infusion of nimodipine (2 micrograms/kg/min i.v.) or its vehicle, polyethylene glycol 400, was begun 2 h before the ischemic interval and was continued throughout the survival period. Under brief halothane anesthesia, the animals' right middle cerebral and common carotid arteries were permanently occluded, and 2.5 h later, they underwent a quantitative CBF study ([14C]iodoantipyrine autoradiography followed by Quantimet 970 image analysis). Nimodipine treatment improved blood flow to the middle cerebral artery territory without evidence of a "vascular steal" and reduced the volume of the ischemic core (cortex with CBF of less than 25 ml/100 g/min) and accompanying edema by approximately 50% when compared with controls (p = 0.006 and 0.0004, respectively). Mild hypotension induced by nimodipine did not aggravate the ischemic insult. The ischemic core volumes, however, were 50-75% smaller than the 24-h infarct volumes generated in a similar paradigm that demonstrated 20-30% infarct reduction with continuous nimodipine treatment. These results suggest that nimodipine pretreatment attenuates the severity of early focal cerebral ischemia, but that with persistent ischemia, cortex surrounding the ischemic core undergoes progressive infarction and the early benefit of nimodipine treatment is only partly preserved.     

c—fos反义寡聚核苷酸对脑缺血性损伤和电针抗损伤作用的影响

用c-fos反义寡聚核苷酸脑内微量注射、TTC染色、c-Fos免疫组织化学和电针等技术和方法,探讨即早反应基因c-fos在大鼠局灶性脑缺血（MCAO）模型的脑损伤中和电针抗局灶性脑缺血脑损伤中所起的作用。实验结果表明,局灶性脑缺血可引起c-fos在缺血侧皮质的大量表达,电针能部分抑制这种表达,使脑缺血梗死灶体积减小。在缺血中心区注射c-fos反义寡聚核苷酸后,脑内c-fos的表达基本上被完全阻断,导致脑梗死灶的体积明显增大,电针抗脑缺血脑损伤的作用也被取消,提示脑缺血后,脑内的c-fos适度表达可能对脑损伤有一定的保护作用。电针可能部分抑制了脑内c-fos表达,调整了缺血后的c-fos表达的程度,对脑缺血损伤起一定的保护作用。     

Protective effects of liposome-entrapped superoxide dismutase on posttraumatic brain edema

Oxygen-derived free radicals and membrane lipid peroxidation have been postulated to be involved in brain edema and cell death, secondary to ischemia and traumatic injury. Using a model of brain edema induced by cold-induced injury, we have demonstrated an early elevation of superoxide radicals followed by permeability changes in the blood-brain barrier and development of edema in injured brain. Intravenous injection of liposome-entrapped copper-zinc-superoxide dismutase 5 minutes before the injury-enhanced entry of the enzyme into endothelial cells of the blood-brain barrier of injured brain reduced the brain level of superoxide radicals and ameliorated blood-brain barrier permeability changes and brain edema. Identical treatment 5 minutes after injury was also effective. These data demonstrate that superoxide radicals play an important role in the delayed development of vasogenic brain edema following brain injury.     

莱菔硫烷对大鼠局灶性脑缺血再灌注损伤的保护作用及机制研究

目的 探讨莱菔硫烷对大鼠局灶性脑缺血再灌注损伤的保护作用及机制.方法 采用线栓法制备大鼠大脑中动脉阻断局灶性脑缺血模型,分别于MCAO后1h腹腔注射莱菔硫烷2.5mg/kg、5mg/kg、10mg/kg.于缺血2h再灌注24h时进行神经行为缺损评分,TTC染色评价脑梗死体积,测定脑组织中超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活力和丙二醛(MDA)含量.免疫荧光组织化学染色法检测黄核蛋白NQ01和脂质过氧化酶Prx6的表达.结果 莱菔硫烷给药组与对照组相比均能改善大鼠脑缺血再灌注后神经行为缺损评分,减少脑梗死体积.其中5mg/kg组能显著改善大鼠脑缺血再灌注后神经行为缺损评分,减少脑梗死体积,增强SOD活性,降低MDA含量.免疫荧光组织化学染色法提示NQ01和Prx6的表达明显增强.结论 莱菔硫烷对大鼠局灶性脑缺血再灌注损伤有神经保护作用,其机制可能与上调内源性抗氧化蛋白NQ01和Prx6的表达有关.     

Proteasome inhibitor PS519 reduces infarction and attenuates leukocyte infiltration in a rat model of focal cerebral ischemia

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Reperfusion brain injury after cerebral ischemia is associated with a developing inflammatory response at the site of infarction. Proteasome inhibitors block nuclear factor-kappaB activation and provide anti-inflammatory effects in several animal models of peripheral inflammation. We tested the novel proteasome inhibitor PS519 in a rat model of transient focal ischemia to establish its pharmacodynamics as a neuroprotection treatment and related effects on leukocyte infiltration. METHODS: Rats were subjected to 2 hours of focal cerebral ischemia by means of the filament method of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo). After either 22 or 70 hours of reperfusion, infarct size was measured and neurological function, electroencephalographic (EEG) activity, and/or neutrophil and macrophage infiltration was quantified. PS519 was administered in a single intravenous bolus at 2 hours after MCAo. In addition, the therapeutic window for PS519 was estimated by delaying treatment for 4 or 6 hours after MCAo. RESULTS: Dose-response analysis of infarct volume at 24 hours revealed that PS519 neuroprotection approached 60%, and clinical evaluations showed significant improvements in neurological function and EEG activity. Neutrophil infiltration at 24 hours was also significantly decreased in cortical and striatal infarcted tissue of PS519-treated rats. Delaying the PS519 treatment up to 4 hours continued to result in significant neuroprotection. In the 72-hour injury model, infarction was reduced 40% by PS519, and significant improvements in neurological function and EEG recovery were again measured. Considerable reductions in both neutrophil and macrophage infiltration were evident. CONCLUSIONS: PS519 mitigates infarction and improves neurological recovery in brain-injured rats, an effect in part caused by a reduction in the leukocyte inflammatory response.     

Delayed treatment with MLN519 reduces infarction and associated neurologic deficit caused by focal ischemic brain injury in rats via antiinflammatory mechanisms involving nuclear factor-kappaB activation, gliosis, and leukocyte infiltration.

Secondary brain injury due to ischemia includes the infiltration of leukocytes into the brain parenchyma mediated by activation of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB), which is activated by proteasome degradation. Neuroprotection with the proteasome inhibitor MLN519 has previously been reported to decrease ischemic brain injury in rats. The authors used higher doses of MLN519 to evaluate the neuroprotection therapeutic window after 24 hours of brain injury in rats as correlated to proteasome levels, activated NF-kappaB immunoreactivity, and leukocyte infiltration. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to 2-hour middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) and recovery. MLN519 or vehicle was administered after injury with a single injection given in delayed increments of 2 hours (i.e., 4, 6, or 8 hours after MCAO). Treatment with MLN519 up to 6 hours after MCAO (4 hours after reperfusion) effectively reduced neuronal and astrocytic degeneration, decreased cortical infarct volume, and increased neurologic recovery. These effects were related to >80% reductions in blood proteasome levels, reduced neutrophil infiltration, and a decrease in activated NF-kappaB immunoreactivity. This improved neuroprotection profile and antiinflammatory effect of MLN519 provides an exciting avenue for potential treatment of focal ischemic brain injury in humans.