DL-3-n-Butylphthalide, an anti-oxidant agent, prevents neurological deficits and cerebral injury following stroke per functional analysis, magnetic resonance imaging and histological assessment

DL-3-n-Butylphthalide (NBP) is a synthetic compound based on L-3-n-Butylphthalide which was isolated from seeds of Apium graveolens. The present study aims at evaluating the outcome of NBP given prior to and after the onset of ischemic stroke in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and normotensive Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY). Stroke was induced by the middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in SHR and WKY. For pre-treatment, NBP was administered to SHR and WKY daily for two months prior to MCAO. For post-treatment, NBP was given daily for seven consecutive days after MCAO. Seven days post-surgery, rats were tested for the presence of neurological deficits. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining were employed to calculate the infarct volume. The cerebral cortex and corpus striatum in the ischemic penumbra area were examined microscopically for pathological changes. In SHR, NBP pre- and post-treatment significantly lowered neurological deficit scores, reduced infarct volume, and minimized pathological changes in the penumbra area when compared to oil-vehicle treated controls. In WKY, these beneficial effects were observed only in the post-treatment group. The beneficial effects of NBP post-treatment were greater in WKY than in SHR. Results indicated that NBP could exert both preventive and therapeutic effects on ischemic stroke in SHR, but only exerted therapeutic effect in WKY.     

高血压动脉硬化性混合性中风的实验病理学研究

用双肾双夹法复制易卒中型肾血管性高血压大鼠55只,肾动脉狭窄术后40周内自发脑卒中31只,其中单纯出血或缺血性中风20只(64.5％),混合性中风11只(35.5％)。混合性中风的大鼠脑内细小动脉的透明变性、纤维素样坏死、微动脉瘤形成及增生性反应等病变比单纯出血或缺血性中风者更为广泛、严重。表明高血压是混合性中风的重要病因,高血压性血管损害是其发病基础。本文还根据中风灶的大小将混合性中风进一步分型,并探讨了各型的发生机制。     

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。     

人工寒潮促发脑卒中的实验研究

目的　探索建立人工寒潮环境 ;探讨人工寒潮与脑卒中的关系。方法　观测用经改装的冷藏柜及人工气候箱模拟寒潮时所需条件及达标情况 ;分别将复制成功的易卒中型肾血管性高血压大鼠 (RHRSP)及正常大鼠置于人工寒潮环境中 ,观察大鼠的血压波动、脑血管病变及脑卒中的发生情况。结果　冷藏柜与人工气候箱均能模拟寒潮 ,后者除能控制温度外同时能控制相对湿度 ;人工寒潮来临时RHRSP组大鼠血压波动大、自发性脑卒中明显增多 ,与对照组比较有明显差异 (P <0 0 5 )。结论　人工气候箱较冷藏柜能更好模拟寒潮 ,人工模拟寒潮克服了季节限制且一致性好、易重复 ;人工寒潮可以使RHRSP发生脑卒中 ,可较好模拟气温骤降 (自然寒潮 )时的脑卒中 ,为进一步研究寒潮诱发脑卒中的机制提供了条件     

大鼠脑梗死后神经前体细胞的增殖及电针作用的实验研究

目的　研究脑梗死病灶周围及海马处神经前体细胞增殖水平的动态变化及电针治疗对其的影响。方法　采用易卒中型肾性高血压大鼠 (RHRSP) ,电凝法凝闭大脑中动脉 (MCAO)。用Garcia等的综合评分法评定大鼠的神经行为学功能 ,免疫组化观察梗死灶边缘、对侧镜区及双侧海马 5 溴脱氧尿核苷 (Bromodeoxyuridine,BrdU)标记细胞的变化。结果　MCAO后大鼠轻偏瘫 ,5天时神经行为学功能恢复正常。MCAO后梗死灶边缘、双侧镜区及双侧海马均有BrdU阳性细胞分布 ,且病灶侧多于病灶对侧 ,病灶周围分布密集。电针治疗促使梗死灶边缘BrdU阳性细胞增多 ,随着治疗时间增加细胞增多更明显。结论　脑梗死可诱导病灶周边及海马神经前体细胞增殖水平上调 ,2周内神经前体细胞随着电针治疗时间的增加而增多。神经前体细胞可能是脑梗死康复的重要物质基础。     

Stroke-prone renovascular hypertensive rats

Purpose To summarized the methods for establishment, characteristics of vascular lesions in brain and heart and thc application of stroke-pronc renovascular hypertensive rats (RHRSP). Background Spontaneously hypcrtensivc rats (STR) and subtypes of SH R, especially stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP) are considered as most important animal models at present for the studies of hypertension and its complications in heart and brain, evcn SHRSP arc considered as thc unique animal model in which prcvention of stroke can be studied cxperimentally Howcver, the applications of SHR and SHRSP are limited because of the effects of genetic deficits and thc difficulties with breeding Theretore, most of the researches on experimental stroke have been performed on the animal models with normotcnsion and normal structure of cerebral vessels. In fact, there are great differences in structure of cerebrovesscls, autoregulation of cerebral blood flow and extent of lesions in brain tissue, even the reaction to the medication after ischemia between the animals with extcnsive arteriosclerosis and with normal cerebral blood vessels. Obviously, thc relevancc of experimental stroke on normal animals to the stroke on cerebral arteriosclerotic patients clinically remains dubious. Data sources and methods Most published original articles about RHRSP in our laboratory were reviewed Results After the renal arteries were constricted bilaterally with ring-shape silver clips, the stroke-prone rcnovascular hypertensive rats were established. Hypertension was produced in all RHRSP(100%).The peak of blood pressure in RHRSP reached 29.1 ±3.0kPa. The lesions of cerebral arteries and arterioles and the damage of cerebral capillary structure by hypertension were observed in the RHRSP. The incidence of spontaneous stroke was 56.4% with in 40 weeks after the renal artery constriction. Left ventricular hypertrophy and small coronary arterial lesions in myocardium were discovered in all RHRSP. Myocardial infarction occurred spontaneously in 41.8% of RHRSP. The animal models have been used for the studies on mechanisms of stroke and myocardial infarction. Futhermore, RHlRSP with cercbrovascular basal pathological changes can be induced as cerebral thrombosis by thc photochemical method, which is quite similar to that of human being in evolution. Therefore. RHRSP with photochemical cerebral thrombosis can be used to appraised therapeutic effects of medication more objectively Conclusions Because the vascular lesions in cerebrum and heart in RHRSP are similar to that in human beings with hypertension, RHRSP can be used in the studies on mechanisms of hypertensive arterioscle-rotic stroke and cardiac lesions and on verifying the effects of different medications to complications of hypertension, and thc results might be more reliable than that in animal models without hypertension.     

巴曲酶预防气温骤降所致脑卒中的实验研究

目的　观察巴曲酶对寒潮促发的易卒中型肾血管性高血压大鼠(RHRSP)的卒中是否有预防作用。方法　用持续高血压1 0周、1 2周、1 4周、1 6周的RHRSP分巴曲酶预处理组和生理盐水对照组,于寒潮来临前1天经股静脉注射巴曲酶( 2BU/kg) ,1天后处死,TTC染色,HE染色。结果　脑卒中发生率在巴曲酶组较对照组显著降低(P <0 . 0 5) ,其中以出血性脑卒中为著。结论　巴曲酶可预防寒潮促发的高血压性脑卒中的发生,对出血性卒中的作用尤其显著。     

Treatment with an Angiopoietin-1 mimetic peptide promotes neurological recovery after stroke in diabetic rats

AimVasculotide (VT), an angiopoietin‐1 mimetic peptide, exerts neuroprotective effects in type one diabetic (T1DM) rats subjected to ischemic stroke. In this study, we investigated whether delayed VT treatment improves long‐term neurological outcome after stroke in T1DM rats.MethodsMale Wistar rats were induced with T1DM, subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo) model of stroke, and treated with PBS (control), 2 µg/kg VT, 3 µg/kg VT, or 5.5 µg/kg VT. VT treatment was initiated at 24 h after stroke and administered daily (i.p) for 14 days. We evaluated neurological function, lesion volume, vascular and white matter remodeling, and inflammation in the ischemic brain. In vitro, we evaluated the effects of VT on endothelial cell capillary tube formation and inflammatory responses of primary cortical neurons (PCN) and macrophages.ResultsTreatment of T1DM‐stroke with 3 µg/kg VT but not 2 µg/kg or 5.5 µg/kg significantly improves neurological function and decreases infarct volume and cell death compared to control T1DM‐stroke rats. Thus, 3 µg/kg VT dose was employed in all subsequent in vivo analysis. VT treatment significantly increases axon and myelin density, decreases demyelination, decreases white matter injury, increases number of oligodendrocytes, and increases vascular density in the ischemic border zone of T1DM stroke rats. VT treatment significantly decreases MMP9 expression and decreases the number of M1 macrophages in the ischemic brain of T1DM‐stroke rats. In vitro, VT treatment significantly decreases endothelial cell death and decreases MCP‐1, endothelin‐1, and VEGF expression under high glucose (HG) and ischemic conditions and significantly increases capillary tube formation under HG conditions when compared to non‐treated control group. VT treatment significantly decreases inflammatory factor expression such as MMP9 and MCP‐1 in macrophages subjected to LPS activation and significantly decreases IL‐1β and MMP9 expression in PCN subjected to ischemia under HG conditions.ConclusionDelayed VT treatment (24 h after stroke) significantly improves neurological function, promotes vascular and white matter remodeling, and decreases inflammation in the ischemic brain after stroke in T1DM rats.     

美托洛尔抗高血压预防脑卒中的实验病理学研究

目的探讨抗高血压治疗预防脑卒中的形态学机制。方法采用易卒中型肾血管性高血压大鼠口服美托洛尔治疗，观察抗高血压治疗各级脑动脉和心室壁厚度的形态学改变。结果治疗组大鼠血压仅短期轻度低于未治疗的高血压对照组，但治疗组各级脑动脉损害和左心室肥厚明显改善，脑卒、中发生率也显著低于高血压对照组。结论美托洛尔抗高血压治疗预防脑卒中的效果，不单纯由血压下降决定，还与其具有保护脑血管和逆转心室肥厚等作用有关。     

脑梗死大鼠神经前体细胞增殖水平的研究

目的研究脑梗死病灶周围及海马处神经前体细胞增殖水平的动态变化。方法采用易卒中型肾性高血压大鼠(RHRSP)，电凝大脑中动脉(MCA)主干制成脑梗死(MCAO)模型。行大鼠神经功能评定，免疫组化观察并计数梗死灶边缘、对侧镜区及双侧海马5-溴脱氧尿核苷(Bromodeoxyuridine，BrdU)标记的细胞。结果MCAO后大鼠神经功能评分减低，5d时恢复正常。MCAO后梗死灶边缘、对侧镜区及双侧海马均有BrdU阳性细胞分布，且病灶侧多于病灶对侧，集中分布于病灶周围。结论脑缺血可诱导神经前体细胞增殖并移向病灶，可能成为脑梗死恢复的重要物质基础。     

Therapeutic effects of human adipose stem cell-conditioned medium on stroke

Stem cell therapy is a promising approach for stroke. However, low survival rates and potential tumorigenicity of implanted cells could undermine the efficacy of the cell-based treatment. The use of stem cell-conditioned medium (CM) may be a feasible approach to overcome these limitations. Especially, specific stem cell culture condition and continuous infusion of CM into ischemic brains would have better therapeutic results. The CM was prepared by culturing human adipose-derived stem cells in a three-dimensional spheroid form to increase the secretion of angiogenic/neuroprotective factors. Ischemic stroke was induced by standard middle cerebral artery occlusion methods in the brain of 8-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats. Continuous infusion of CM or αMEM media (0.5 μl/hr) into the lateral ventricle was initiated 8 days after the surgery and maintained for 7 days. Alteration in the motor function was monitored by the rotarod test. Infarction volume and the number of microvessels or TUNEL-positive neural cells were analyzed 15 days after the surgery. Compared with αMEM, continuous CM infusion reduced the infarction volume and maintained motor function. The number of CD31-positive microvessels and TUNEL-positive neural cells significantly increased and decreased, respectively, in the penumbra regions. Although the apoptosis of all neural cell types decreased, reduction in the microglial apoptosis and astrogliosis was prominent and significant. In this study, the therapeutic effects of the CM against stroke were confirmed in an animal model. Increased endothelial cell proliferation, reduced neural cell apoptosis, and milder astrogliosis may play important roles in the treatment effects of CM.     

Therapeutic effects of lipo-prostaglandin E1 on angiogenesis and neurogenesis after ischemic stroke in rats

Previous studies have demonstrated that prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) has a neuroprotective effect on cerebral ischemia. However, it remains unknown whether PGE1 promotes angiogenesis and neurogenesis after ischemic stroke. In this study, adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to permanently distal middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Rats were treated with lipo-prostaglandin E1(lipo-PGE1, 10 μg/kg/d) or the same volume of 0.9% saline starting 24 hours after MCAO daily for 6 consecutive days. All rats were injected 5'-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU, 50 mg/kg) intraperitoneally every 12 hours for 3 consecutive days before being sacrificed. At 7 and 14 days after MCAO or sham-operation, rats were sacrificed. Post-stroke neurological outcome, infarction volume, angiogenesis and neurogenesis were evaluated. Treatment with lipo-PGE1 significantly increased the vascular density in the peri-infarct areas at 7 and 14 days after MCAO. The lipo-PGE1 treatment significantly enhanced the proliferation and migration of endogenous neural stem cells in the ipsilateral subventricular zone. The neural stem cells associated with blood vessels closely within a neurovascular niche in lipo-PGE1-treated rats after stroke. The lipo-PGE1 treatment also significantly improved the neurological recovery after MCAO. These results indicate that treatment with lipo-PGE1 promotes post-stroke angiogenesis, neurogenesis and their interaction, which would contribute to neurological recovery after cerebral infarction. Our study provides novel experimental evidences for the neuroprotective roles of PGE1 in ischemic stroke.     

Simvastatin reduced ischemic brain injury and perfusion deficits in an embolic model of stroke

Simvastatin is cholesterol lowering agent and also a modulator of cytokine in the nervous system. The functional significance and neuroprotectiove mechanism of simvastatins in ischemic brain injury is controversial. The purpose of study is to evaluate the effect of simvastatin on ischemic brain injury and to investigate the perfusion capability of brain microvessels in the ischemic injury. This study included two series of experiments. In the first series, we studied if simvastatin is neuroprotective in an embolic model of stroke. The treatments began 2 weeks before middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion. Infarct volume was measured at 48 h post stroke. Neurological deficits were assessed at 2 h, 24 h and 48 h post stroke. Results showed that infarct volume in rats which received saline and simvastatin was 32.5 +/- 9.3% (mean +/- SD) and 18.7 +/- 6.5%, respectively. The infarct volume in the simvastatin group was significantly smaller than in the controls (P < 0.002). Treatment with simvastatin also improved neurological deficits and reduced brain edema significantly (P < 0.05). In the second series, we studied if simvastatin can improve microvascular reperfusions after ischemia. Perfusion deficits were detected at 8 h post stroke using Evens blue dye. Neurological deficits were assessed at 2 h and 8 h post stroke. Results showed that perfusion deficit in saline and simvastatin-treated groups were 58.7 +/- 8.7% and 23.4 +/- 7.5%, respectively. The perfusion deficit in simvastatin-treated group was decreased 61% (P < 0.01). These studies thus suggest that simvastatin is a protective agent in ischemic brain injury and this protective effect may be partially due to its action in the improvement of microvascular reperfusion.     

电针对脑缺血大鼠神经黏蛋白mRNA表达与细胞超微结构的影响

目的观察电针对易卒中型肾血管性高血压大鼠(stroke prone renovascular hypertensive rats,RHRSP)脑缺血-再灌注后不同时间点神经黏蛋白mRNA(neurocan-mRNA)表达、细胞超微结构的影响。方法用环形银夹使SD大鼠的双侧肾动脉狭窄,制成RHRSP,再用线栓法制成一侧大脑中动脉闭塞(middle cerebral artery occlu-sion,MCAO)模型。运用原位杂交和电镜等技术观察电针对脑缺血2h后再灌注1、7、14、30d大鼠脑内神经黏蛋白-mRNA表达与细胞超微结构的干预作用,并与对照组比较。结果电针组脑缺血-再灌注7、14、30d大鼠脑缺血区周围及海马区neurocan-mRNA表达均低于同期对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);电针组神经元、血管壁等细胞超微结构的损伤较对照各组减轻。结论电针对RHRSP脑缺血-再灌注损伤的保护作用,可能与其下调神经抑制因子neurocan-mRNA表达、减轻细胞超微结构损害等机制有关。     

Neuroprotection against transient cerebral ischemia by exercise pre-conditioning in rats

There is increasing evidence that physical activity is associated with decreased stroke risk and incidence. The purpose of this study was to determine whether increased levels of physical activity could reduce brain damage in rats subjected to transient or permanent middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats (three months old, n=36) exercised on a treadmill, which required repetitive locomotor movement, for 30 min each day for three weeks. Then, using an intraluminal filament, stroke was induced by either 2-h MCA occlusion followed by two days of reperfusion or by MCA occlusion for two days without reperfusion. Brain damage was determined by evaluating neurologic deficits and brain infarction. In rat with transient MCA occlusion, pre-ischemic motor activity significantly (p<0.01) reduced neurologic deficits and infarct volume in the frontoparietal cortex and the dorsolateral striatum. In contrast, the same exercise procedure did not produce neuroprotection in the permanently MCA-occluded stroke. In addition to decreasing stroke risk and incidence, physical activity also reduces brain damage after stroke. Although we cannot completely rule out a neuroprotective effect on ischemic episode, our study suggests that a major neuroprotection is conferred during reperfusion for rats that have undergone exercise pre-conditioning. This exercise-induced endogenous neuroprotection may be an effective strategy to ameliorate ischemia/reperfusion brain injury from stroke.     

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.     

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

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 degrees 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.     

Combined diffusion and perfusion MRI with correlation to single-photon emission CT in acute ischemic stroke. Ischemic penumbra predicts infarct growth.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: More effective imaging methods are needed to overcome the limitations of CT in the investigation of treatments for acute ischemic stroke. Diffusion-weighted MRI (DWI) is sensitive in detecting infarcted brain tissue, whereas perfusion-weighted MRI (PWI) can detect brain perfusion in the same imaging session. Combining these methods may help in identifying the ischemic penumbra, which is an important concept in the hemodynamics of acute stroke. The purpose of this study was to determine whether combined DWI and PWI in acute (<24 hours) ischemic stroke can predict infarct growth and final size. METHODS: Forty-six patients with acute ischemic stroke underwent DWI and PWI on days 1, 2, and 8. No patient received thrombolysis. Twenty-three patients underwent single-photon emission CT in the acute phase. Lesion volumes were measured from DWI, SPECT, and maps of relative cerebral blood flow calculated from PWI. RESULTS: The mean volume of infarcted tissue detected by DWI increased from 46.1 to 75.6 cm(3) between days 1 and 2 (P<0.001; n=46) and to 78.5 cm(3) after 1 week (P<0.001; n=42). The perfusion-diffusion mismatch correlated with infarct growth (r=0. 699, P<0.001). The volume of hypoperfusion on the initial PWI correlated with final infarct size (r=0.827, P<0.001). The hypoperfusion volumes detected by PWI and SPECT correlated significantly (r=0.824, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Combined DWI and PWI can predict infarct enlargement in acute stroke. PWI can detect hypoperfused brain tissue in good agreement with SPECT in acute stroke.     

Long-term neuroprotective effect of inhibiting poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase in rats with middle cerebral artery occlusion using a behavioral assessment

Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) can initiate an energy-consuming and inefficient repair cycle following cerebral ischemia/reperfusion by transferring ADP ribose units to nuclear proteins eventually leading to cellular dysfunction and neuronal death. 3-Aminobenzamide (3-AB) is a selective inhibitor of PARP that can significantly reduce brain damage after focal ischemia in rats and displays a low toxicity in vivo. The goals of this study were to determine if inhibiting PARP with 3-AB has a long-term neuroprotective effect and if functional outcome improves in rats following focal ischemia and treatment with 3-AB. Focal ischemia was induced by a 2-h occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (MCA), using an intraluminal filament. Motor functions were evaluated from 5 to 28 days after reperfusion in four groups of rats: stroke without treatment; stroke treated with 3-AB at doses of 15 mg/kg, stroke treated with 3-AB at doses of 55 mg/kg; and the non-ischemic control rats. Functional behaviors were tested by a series of motor function tasks (foot placing, parallel bar crossing, rope and ladder climbing), as well as a neurological examination. Infarct volume of stroke brain in the same rat was determined by Nissl staining 28 days after surgery. Comparison of the untreated stroke group (n=11) and the treated stroke groups indicates that impairment of motor function was significantly (P<0.001) reduced by administration of 3-AB at doses of 15 mg/kg (n=9) or 55 mg/kg (n=10). Neurological outcome was also improved significantly (P<0.001). Infarct volume was significantly (P<0.01) reduced in both treated groups. Long-term neuroprotection following ischemia/reperfusion injury to the brain can be obtained by administration of a PARP inhibitor. The motor tests employed in this study can be used as sensitive, objective and reproducible measurements of functional impairment in rats following an ischemic stroke.     

Effectiveness of a new modified intraluminal suture for temporary middle cerebral artery occlusion in rats of various weight

Intraluminal temporary middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) is a common model of ischemic stroke in the rat with significant, suture and weight-dependent variability along with increased risk of subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH). Our purpose was to increase reproducibility and decrease SAH using a modification of the Koizumi suture. We compared a Koizumi 5/0 Ethilon poly-l-lysine-coated suture (s-2, group B) to an identical, uncoated one (s-1, group A) and the Belayev's 3/0 suture (s-3, group C), in the 2-h MCAO model in Wistar rats of varying weight (310-527 g). Assessment included successful infarction rates, the modified neurological stroke scale (mNSS), a modified Bederson's scale (mBS), the grid-walking test (GWT), infarction volume (with rostrocaudal subanalysis and analysis of cortical/striatal involvement) and hemispheric edema. The s-2 suture increased the successful MCAO from 61.1% and 66.6% (groups A and C) to 97.5% in group B and induced a more severe clinical stroke (P<0.05) irrespective of animal's weight, with no incidence of SAH. Infarction volume and ipsilateral hemispheric edema significantly (P<0.05) increased and well correlated with the mNSS (P相似文献