Altered gene expressions during hypoxia and reoxygenation in cortical neurons isolated from stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats

The aim of the present study was to analyse the correlation between functional and electrophysiological effects of the opioids in guinea pig ileum. Preparations of guinea pig ileum myenteric plexus-longitudinal muscle strips were used to compare the effect of two opioids, morphine (a mu-agonist) and U-50,488H (a kappa-agonist) on the electrically-induced contractile response and the excitatory postsynaptic potentials exhibited by the myenteric neurones when the internodal strands are electrically stimulated. Both opioids dose-dependently inhibited the contractile responses and the fast excitatory postsynaptic potentials (fEPSPs) in S neurones but did not modify the amplitude of the slow postsynaptic potentials. Pertussis toxin pretreatment was able to antagonise the effects of both morphine and U-50,448H. From our results it can be suggested that the effect of the opioids on guinea pig ileum involves the inhibition of neuronal fEPSPs.     

Glutamate reduces secretion of l-serine in astrocytes isolated from stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats

In the CNS, l-serine (l-Ser) plays an essential role in neuronal survival by evoking a variety of biological responses in glial cells. Initially, we examined whether glutamate, hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)), interleukin-1 (IL-1) beta, and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) induce the secretion of l-Ser in astrocytes isolated from Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY). The secretion of l-Ser was significantly induced with glutamate and SNP in cultured astrocytes. Next, to gain insight into the involvement of l-Ser in glutamate-induced neuroprotection, we compared the secretion of l-Ser in astrocytes isolated from stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP) and normotensive rats, WKY. We also examined the mRNA expression of the enzyme that produces l-Ser, 3-phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (PHGDH), and a neural amino acid transporter, ASCT1, in the cultured astrocytes. A dose-dependent study of glutamate in astrocytes of SHRSP indicated differences in the secretion of l-Ser, and gene expression of PHGDH and ASCT1, compared with levels in the WKY astrocytes. We demonstrated that both the secretion and the gene expression were significantly attenuated in glutamate-treated astrocytes from SHRSP. Cerebral ischemia in SHRSP induced a massive efflux of glutamate, causing delayed neuronal death in region CA1 of the hippocampus. The results suggest that the attenuated secretion of l-Ser in astrocytes is involved in neuronal vulnerability and survival in SHRSP during the production of glutamate, as the secretion of l-Ser, which is stimulated by glutamate, is closely related to the protective effect against glutamate-mediated neurotoxicity. We conclude that glutamate and SNP up-regulate the secretion of l-Ser in primary astrocytes. Secretion of l-Ser is regulated in astrocytes in response to glutamate and nitric oxide and may correspond to the level of l-Ser needed for neuronal survival during brain insults such as ischemic stroke in SHRSP.     

Cerebrovascular permeability in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats

Cerebrovascular permeability in the stroke-prone strain of spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) rats drinking a 1% NaCl solution was examined by injection of Evan's blue, or ¹²⁵I-labeled human serum albumin (¹²⁵I-HSA), before and immediately after the onset of stroke. Leakage of Evan's blue was locally found in the brain or spinal cord from rats with stroke signs, but not in those from rats without the signs. Examination of serial sections of the blue areas revealed association of dye leakage with pathological changes such as medial thickening and fibrinoid degeneration of arterioles, petechial hemorrhage, and edema. The increased cerebrovascular permeability to ¹²⁵I-HSA was observed only in the blue spot areas but not in other parts of brain even in the rats with stroke signs. These findings indicate that increased cerebrovascular permeability is limited to the focal area with small vascular lesions which are closely related to the onset of stroke.     

Renin-angiotensin system in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats.

The development of malignant hypertension was studied in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) kept on 1% NaCl as drinking water. Along with salt-loading, blood pressure gradually increased and reached a severe hypertensive level (greater than 230 mmHg), which was followed by increases in urinary protein (greater than 100 (mg/250 g body wt)/day) and plasma renin concentration (PRC, from 18.9 +/- 0.1 to 51.2 +/- 19.4 (ng/ml)/h, mean +/- SD). At this stage, renal small arteries and arterioles showed severe sclerosis and fibrinoid necrosis. Stroke was observed within a week after the onset of these renal abnormalities. The dose of exogenous angiotensin II (AII) producing 30 mmHg rise in blood pressure increased with the elevation of PRC, from 22 +/- 12 to 75 +/- 36 ng/kg, which was comparable to that in rats on water. The fall of blood pressure due to an AII inhibitor, [1-sarcosine, 8-alanine]AII (10(microgram/kg)/min for 40 min) became more prominent with the increase in PRC in salt-loaded rats, but was not detected in rats on water. These findings suggest that the activation of renin-angiotensin system participates in malignant hypertension of salt-loaded stroke-prone SHR rats that show stroke signs, proteinuria, hyperreninemia, and renovascular changes.     

Spatiotemporal dynamics of intracellular calcium in the middle cerebral artery isolated from stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats

The spatiotemporal dynamics of intracellular calcium within the middle cerebral artery (MCA) isolated from stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR-SP) were investigated using real-time confocal laser microscopy. At 3 months of age (prestroke), rhythmical changes in the [Ca(2+)](i) during the tonic phase were found to precede vasomotion following application of 5-HT, but not other stimuli. These responses were not observed at 1 month of age; moreover, the MCA lost both responses post-stroke (5 months of age). When [Ca(2+)](i) was analysed in arteriolar smooth muscle cells, rhythmical changes in [Ca(2+)](i) occurred during the same cycle. Thus, these processes were synchronized. The synchronized rhythmical changes in [Ca(2+)](i) were abolished following application of 100 nM ketanserin and 10 μM nicardipine. Treatment with 60 nM charybdotoxin and 10 μM cyclopiazonic acid also significantly reduced rhythmical elevations in [Ca(2+)](i). In addition, rhythmical changes in [Ca(2+)](i) became unsynchronized following treatment with 100 μM carbenoxolone, a gap junction blocker. Connexin 45 mRNA and protein expression were both elevated in the MCA of SHR-SP. Taken together, these findings suggest that rhythmical changes in [Ca(2+)](i) of the MCA are dependent upon the 5-HT(2) receptor-mediated release of calcium from intracellular stores which, in turn, activates voltage-dependent calcium channels to enable an influx of calcium into smooth muscle cells. Subsequently, charybdotoxin-sensitive potassium channels are activated and provide a negative feedback pathway to regulate [Ca(2+)](i). Moreover, the co-ordinated synchronization of rhythmical changes in [Ca(2+)](i) across smooth muscle cells was found to be dependent upon gap junctions.     

Circulating and local visfatin/Nampt/PBEF levels in spontaneously hypertensive rats,stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats and Wistar-Kyoto rats

Visfatin (also known as nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase and pre-B cell colony-enhancing factor) is a multifunctional protein. Visfatin has been reported to be involved in several biological processes in the cardiovascular system, . However, the role of visfatin in hypertension is still unclear. In this study, we examined the circulating and local adipose visfatin levels in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR-SP), and in their normotensive control Wistar-Kyoto (WKY). SHR and SHR-SP rats exhibited lower body weight, lower fat tissue and hypolipidemia. No differences of serum visfatin levels were observed in SHR/SHR-SP and WKY. Serum visfatin levels did not correlate to serum glucose, lipids, insulin, and fat pad weights, but significantly correlated to weights of skeletal muscle. Visfatin expression in visceral fat tissue was slightly lower in SHR-SP compared with that in WKY. Moreover, there were no significant differences of visfatin expression in skeletal muscles among WKY, SHR and SHR-SP. Finally, visfatin protein was detected in L6 rat skeletal muscle cell culture medium, indicating that visfatin was secreted from skeletal muscle cells. Thus, our results may provide useful information for understanding the characteristic of visfatin in hypertensive models, and support the view that visfatin may be a myokine.     

腺苷对大鼠缺氧/复氧星形胶质细胞的保护作用

目的:明确在正常状态和缺氧状态,不规则趋化因子(FKN)对脑细胞是否有损害作用;腺苷是否可以抑制FKN的作用。方法:原代培养大鼠星形胶质细胞,分为正常组、模型组和腺苷组。模型组细胞接受8 h缺氧/24h复氧处理;腺苷组细胞在缺氧前24 h加入150μmol/L腺苷后再进行8 h缺氧/24 h复氧处理。采用ELISA法检测各组FKN的相对表达量,MTT法检测各组细胞存活率。结果:与正常组相比,星形胶质细胞在缺氧/复氧后,细胞明显肿胀坏死,有大量的FKN释放。与模型组相比,腺苷组可明显降低缺氧/复氧损伤时FKN的释放,且细胞水肿坏死较轻;正常组、模型组、腺苷组在缺氧8 h/复氧24 h后细胞活力(OD值)分别是0.759、0.119和0.504。结论:腺苷预处理可使缺氧/复氧后星形胶质细胞FKN的释放减少,从而起到神经保护作用。     

Tempol对卒中易感型自发性高血压模型大鼠脑小血管病发病的影响

目的:探讨Tempol对脑小血管病变卒中发生的影响。方法:以卒中易感型自发性高血压大鼠(SHRSP)为脑小血管病动物模型,将其随机分为对照组与Tempol处理组,每组10只。利用行为学观察评估卒中事件的发生率及大鼠的存活率,Elisa法测定额叶皮层丙二醛(MDA)的含量、总抗氧化能力(TAC)及超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)的活性,Evans blue染色测定血脑屏障的破坏程度,Western Blot测定紧密连接蛋白occludin、claudin-5与Zo-1的表达。结果:与对照组相比,Tempol处理组首次卒中发病时间推迟(36 d vs 20 d,P0.05),卒中发病率下降(75%vs 100%,P0.05),存活率提高(45%vs 25%,P0.05)。Tempol处理组额叶皮层MDA含量(nmol/mg)降低(0.63±0.04 vs1.23±0.07,P0.05),TAC与SOD酶活性(U/mg)增加(25.6±3.4 vs 15.6±1.2,P0.05;7.46±0.92 vs 5.2±0.7,P0.05)。Tempol处理组额叶皮层Evans blue含量(μg/mg)降低(3.75±0.42 vs 6.16±0.34,P0.05),且伴有occludin、claudin-5与Zo-1蛋白表达增加。结论:Tempol可通过抑制氧化应激,减轻血脑屏障破坏,降低大鼠脑小血管病卒中发生风险。     

Effect of carbocyclin on cardiac ATP-ase activity in normotensive and stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats

Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Research Institute of Pediatrics, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR M. Ya. Studenikin.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 109, No. 3, pp. 229–231, March, 1990.     

Endothelium-dependent relaxation in pulmonary arteries of L-NAME-treated Wistar and stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats.

To evaluate whether the elevated blood pressure induced by chronic treatment with N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) contributes to an impairment of endothelium-dependent relaxation (EDR), the effects of chronic treatment of Wistar rats with L-NAME on systolic blood pressure, pulmonary arterial blood pressure and EDR of the pulmonary arteries were studied and compared with those of stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP). While the systolic blood pressure (SBP) of Wistar rats was increased above that of controls by chronic treatment with L-NAME, it was still significantly lower than that of SHRSP. Chronic treatment with L-NAME did not affect pulmonary arterial blood pressure. On the other hand, the pulmonary arterial blood pressure of SHRSP was slightly but significantly higher than that of the control normotensive Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY). EDR in response to acetylcholine in the pulmonary artery of L-NAME-treated rats was significantly smaller than that in control Wistar rats. The EDR markedly increased in the presence of L-arginine and completely disappeared in the presence of N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine. Indomethacin hardly affected EDR. In preparations from SHRSP, the EDR was not different from that in those from WKY. Relaxation induced by sodium nitroprusside was identical in all preparations. Elevation of SBP and the impairment of EDR observed in L-NAME-treated rats recovered two weeks following cessation of treatment. These results suggest that the impaired EDR in the pulmonary artery of L-NAME-treated rats is not due to an L-NAME-induced increase in blood pressure but due to the inhibition of nitric oxide synthase by the drug remaining in the endothelium.     

Aniracetam enhances glutamatergic transmission in the prefrontal cortex of stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats

The effects of aniracetam, a cognition enhancer, on extracellular levels of glutamate (Glu), γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and nitric oxide metabolites (NOx) were examined in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and the basolateral amygdala (AMG) in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP) using in vivo microdialysis. Basal release of Glu, was lower in the AMG of SHRSP than in normotensive Wistar Kyoto rats, whereas no difference in GABA and NOx was noted. Aniracetam (100 mg/kg, p.o.) significantly increased the area under the curve of Glu levels in the PFC, but not in the AMG, of SHRSP. Aniracetam failed to exert any remarkable effects on GABA or NOx levels in either brain region. Our findings suggest that aniracetam enhances cortical glutamatergic release, which may be the mechanism involved in the ameliorating effects of aniracetam on various neuronal dysfunctions.     

Unaltered caffeine-induced relaxation in the aorta of stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP).

Caffeine-induced relaxation was studied in aortic segments from Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY) and stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP). Although acetylcholine-induced endothelium-dependent relaxation was impaired in preparations from SHRSP, the relaxation induced by caffeine was identical in both groups. In addition, caffeine-induced relaxation was not affected by removal of the endothelium in either group. The relaxation induced by N6,2'-O-dibutyryladenosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate (db-cAMP), a membrane-permeable analog of adenosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP), was identical in both groups. No significant difference was observed in the increase in cAMP content induced by caffeine in the aortic smooth muscle between the groups, although the basal content was significantly higher in preparations from SHRSP. These results suggest that the relaxation induced by caffeine in these preparations is brought about by its direct effect on smooth muscle and that the response of the smooth muscle to caffeine, including cAMP production, is not altered in preparations from SHRSP compared with those from WKY.     

Reactivity of intrarenal arteries to vasoconstrictor and vasorelaxant polypeptides in adult stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats.

The reactivity of intrarenal arteries to vasoconstrictor and vasodilator polypeptides was examined in adult stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP). The contraction response to endothelin-1 (ET-1) was greater in SHRSP than in age-matched Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY), and so was the pD2 estimate (8.05+/-0.03 in SHRSP, and 7.73+/-0.06 in WKY; n=5, P < 0.05). The contraction response to, and the pD2 estimate of, vasopressin were comparable in SHRSP and WKY. Neuropeptide Y did not contract the intrarenal arteries. In norepinephrine-precontracted arteries with intact endothelium, substance P and neurokinin A did not relax the arteries of either SHRSP or WKY, while calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) induced a profound relaxation response. Relaxation response to CGRP was significantly greater in SHRSP than in WKY. Atrial, brain, and C-type natriuretic peptides (ANP, BNP, CNP), vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), and peptide histidine isoleucine (PHI) all caused relaxation responses, with a greater extent of relaxation to ANP, BNP, and VIP and a less extent to CNP and PHI. However, there were no significant differences in these relaxation responses between SHRSP and WKY. The current results revealed the character of heterogeneity of rat intrarenal arteries in response to vasoconstrictor and vasodilator peptides, and showed an enhanced reactivity to ET-1 and to CGRP in SHRSP.     

The effects of heparin treatment on hypertension and vascular lesions in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SPSHRs) were used to test the theory that heparin treatment may prevent the development of "malignant" hypertension and fibrinoid vascular lesions in the kidney. Subcutaneous injections of heparin (100 units/100 g body weight) were given every 8 hours over a 5-week period to 12 young (10-week-old) SPSHRs. A control group of 12 SPSHRs was injected with saline. Both heparin-treated and control animals showed an incremental rise in mean systolic pressure, but the pressure was significantly lower (P less than 0.05) in the heparin-treated animals during weeks 1-4 of treatment. There were significantly fewer fibrinoid vascular lesions (P less than 0.03) in the heparin-treated group. In 7 additional heparin-treated and 7 control SPSHRs plasma and blood volumes were determined for assessment of the effects of heparin treatment. There was no significant difference in total blood volume or plasma volume between the two groups, but heparin-treated animals had lower hematocrit levels. In 8 SPSHRs direct arterial pressures were recorded for 1 hour after a single heparin injection, and no acute changes in blood pressure were observed. The results suggest that heparin treatment prevents the development of severe fibrinoid vascular lesions and also attenuates the rate of the rise in systolic blood pressure; moreover, this reduction in blood pressure is not caused by a significant reduction in blood volume or an acute hypotensive effect of heparin.     

Scanning and transmission electron microscopic observation of femoral head feeding vessels in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats

Stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP) are known to show necrosis of the femoral head with a frequency of about 50%. This rat has thus been used as an animal model for necrosis of the femoral head in many studies. In a detailed investigation of feeding vessel disorders that cause femoral head necrosis, we observed changes over time in the feeding vessels using scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. In scanning electron microscopy of vascular casts, abnormal findings in feeding vessels of SHRSP with aging from the immature stage included contortion and bending in the lumen with overall narrowing. Under transmission electron microscopy, decreased numbers of smooth muscle cells and increased amounts of collagen fibers were marked, and these changes with hypertrophy of vascular walls might be similar to those of arteriolosclerosis. The structural changes first revealed by transmission electron microscopic observation might cause the friability of the feeding vessels so that contortion and bending occurred, suggesting transient obstruction of blood flow to the femoral head and subsequent induction of femoral head necrosis. These findings should help in understanding the causes of femoral head necrosis in humans, including Perthes’ disease.     

Dorsal cerebral collaterals of stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP) and Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY)

Earlier studies established that stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP) invariably infarct after middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion. Normotensive rats are usually protected from infarction after the occlusion. Objectives of this study were to characterize the anastomosing collaterals that may determine the different outcomes to MCA occlusion in SHRSP and Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY). Young (5-10 week) and old (40-69 week) rats of each sex were anesthetized, then administered papaverine to produce maximal vasodilatation of the cerebrovascular bed. Under control conditions latex was injected into the arterial tree to measure the internal diameter of branches of the anterior cerebral artery (ACA), the MCA, and the ACA-MCA anastomosing collaterals. Large diameter ACA and MCA rami in old, but not young, SHRSP were significantly smaller in diameter than the respective ACA and MCA branches in old WKY. The number of ACA-MCA anastomoses was the same for SHRSP and WKY. Mean internal diameter of the ACA-MCA anastomoses was significantly (p less than 0.0001) smaller in SHRSP than WKY in both age groups. There were significant negative correlations between age and 1) the internal diameter of the ACA-MCA anastomoses in WKY but not SHRSP, and 2) the largest diameter ACA and MCA rami in SHRSP but not WKY. The findings suggest that vascular resistance of fully relaxed collaterals is greater in SHRSP than WKY, thereby compromising the dorsal collateral circulation before large diameter vessel changes occur that accompany the established form of hypertension.     

An increase in the sympathoadrenal medullary function in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats under anesthetized and resting conditions

Sympathoadrenal medullary functions were investigated in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR-SP) and in control normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) under halothane-anesthetized and resting conditions. The mean frequency of the spontaneous efferent activity of a single adrenal sympathetic nerve fiber was 1.08 +/- 0.11 impulses/s in WKY and 2.82 +/- 0.24 imp/s in SHR-SP, indicating a much higher level in SHR-SP than in WKY. The secretion rates of both adrenaline and noradrenaline from the adrenal gland were higher in SHR-SP than in WKY. The secretion rates of adrenaline and noradrenaline in WKY were 16.8 +/- 3.0 and 1.70 +/- 0.09 ng/kg X min, respectively, while those in SHR-SP were 36.7 +/- 3.9 and 2.56 +/- 0.18 ng/kg X min, respectively.     

Noradrenergic hyperinnervation may inhibit necrosis of coronary arterial smooth muscle cells in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats

Noradrenergic (NA) nerve fibre distribution and vascular smooth muscle morphology were investigated in the coronary artery of stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP). Fluorescent NA nerve fibres of SHRSP aged 10, 30, 60, 90 and 180 days were examined by the glyoxylic acid method and compared with those of age-matched normotensive Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats. The distribution densities of NA nerve fibres were measured by quantitative image analysis using the Interactive Bildanalyse System. The densities of NA nerve fibres of the left coronary artery of SHRSP were significantly higher than those of WKY rats at all ages examined. NA hyperinnervation in the coronary artery of SHRSP may be caused by the hyperfunction of the stellate ganglia which innervate the coronary arteries. Scanning electron microscopy observations showed that the surface of smooth muscle cells of the left coronary artery in SHRSP was smooth and similar to that of WKY rats at 120 days of age, but was slightly modified by more invaginations and projections than that in WKY rats at 180 days of age. No necrotic cells, however, were found in SHRSP. By transmission electron microscopy the smooth muscle cells in SHRSP were shown to be irregular in profile with deep indentations of the plasma membrane and surrounded by many layers of basal laminalike material, but no necrotic cells were found. We suggest that NA hyperinnervation protects the vascular smooth muscle cells from necrosis in the coronary artery of SHRSP by a trophic effect mediated by NA nerve fibres.     

Changes in vascular permeability in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats studied with peroxidase as a tracer.

Cerebrovascular permeability in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) at various ages was histologically studied using horseradish peroxidase as a tracer and such was related to the cerebrovascular lesions in the animals. An increase in permeability was demonstrated in the brain of SHR, particularly in those animals with an extremely high blood pressure. Increased cerebrovascular permeability occurred in some animals without any organic vascular change or severe parenchymal changes, although edema was present. Histologically, the SHR brain with an increase in permeability showed mild focal edema, rarefaction of tissue and necrosis with cyst formation. Thus a transitional progress was evident. Localization of the increase in permeability corresponded well with the predilection sites of cerebrovascular lesions in SHR. Constrictions and dilatations of intracerebral arterioles and small arteries were also demonstrated by the peroxidase method, and the dilated arterial walls did reveal a darker staining. From these results it is strongly suggested that certain cerebrovascular lesions, especially necrosis with cyst formation in SHR are sequelae of the increased cerebrovascular permeability caused by a chronic hypertensive state.     

Protective effects of ebselen, a seleno-organic antioxidant on neurodegeneration induced by hypoxia and reperfusion in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rat

Cerebral ischemia followed by oxygen reperfusion induced apoptosis in hippocampal neurons in the stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHRSP) but not in Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY). We investigated whether 2-phenyl-1,2-benzisoselenazol-3(2H)-one, also called PZ51 (ebselen), useful for treating ischemic damage or antihypertension in the brain, can protect against ischemic neuronal damage in SHRSP. In this study, we compared the effects of ebselen, carvedilol, 3-methyl-1-phenyl-2-pyrazolin-5-one (MCI-186) as well as vitamin E, added to cultures of neurons after reoxygenation (20% O(2)) following hypoxia (1% O(2)). SHRSP neurons died rapidly during reoxygenation following hypoxia but were rescued in large measure by 10 muM ebselen (neuronal death; 2.7+/-1.4%). In order of neuroprotective potency, the agents ranked as follows: ebselen>carvedilol>MCI-186>vitamin E. In vivo, strong neuroprotection by ebselen was observed in the hippocampal CA1 region of SHRSP (32.9+/-9.5 apoptotic neuron/1000 neurons, 30 mg/kg/day). Ebselen prevented apoptosis as confirmed by morphological observations in vivo. Its effect was associated with the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax. These findings suggest that ebselen has a marked inhibitory effect on neuronal damage during stroke. Ebselen may be effective in the prevention and/or treatment of neurodegenerative diseases associated with excessive apoptosis in patients with stroke.