Uridine 5′-triphosphate (UTP) protects against cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury in rats

Aims: To test the hypothesis that uridine 5′-triphosphate (UTP) had a protective effect on cerebral ischemia reperfusion (IR) injury in rats. Methods: Ischemia was induced by intraluminal suture of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). UTP solution was delivered through an indwelling tail venous catheter via microinfusion pump 30 min after the occlusion of MCA at a rate of 0.5 ml/100 g/min. Neurological deficit score (NDS) and brain water content were determined 24 h after reperfusion. Infarct volume was determined by 2,3,5-triphenyl-tetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and nerve cell death was studied under an electron microscope. Results: There was a dose-dependent relationship among 10, 30 and 90 μg/kg UTP. The 90 μg/kg UTP had the best protective effect among the 3 groups. We compared 90 μg/kg UTP group with normal saline group and found that UTP had a protective effect on cerebral IR by the results of TTC staining (15.9% vs 30.5%, P < 0.01). MRI at 6, 30 and 54 h after reperfusion showed smaller infarct volume in 90 μg/kg group compared with 0 μg/kg group (283.5, 352.1, 367.45 mm³ vs 401.36, 576.75 and 677.11 mm³, respectively), and electron microscope showed less nerve cell death in 90 μg/kg group compared with 0 μg/kg group. Conclusion: UTP has a dose-dependent protective effect on cerebral IR.     

Vagus nerve stimulation reduces infarct size in rat focal cerebral ischemia

Background and purpose: We sought to determine the effect of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) on infarct size after transient focal cerebral ischemia in rats. Methods: Ischemia was produced by transient filament occlusion of the right middle cerebral artery. Stimulating electrodes were implanted on the cervical part of the right vagus nerve. Electrical stimulation was initiated 30 min after the induction of ischemia, and delivered for 30 s at every 30 min for 3 h in experimental group 1 and at every 5 min for 1 h in experimental group 2. All the procedures were duplicated but no stimulus was delivered in the control group. Functional deficit was evaluated and animals were killed to determine the infarct size 24 h after ischemia. Results: Ischemic lesion volume was smaller in VNS-treated animals as compared with control animals; the relative percentage of contralateral hemispheric volume that underwent infarction was 16.2 ± 3.2% in the VNS and 33.0 ± 5.0% in the control arms in experimental group 1 (p < 0.05). The respective values for experimental group 2 were 19.8 ± 0.5% and 37.9 ± 2.6% (p < 0.05). VNS-treated animals were significantly more likely to have better functional scores at 24 h as compared with control animals. The functional score improved by 50% in experimental group 1 and 44% in experimental group 2 (p < 0.05 for both groups). Conclusion: VNS appears to offer protection against acute ischemic brain injury.     

D-Cycloserine enhances spatial memory in spontaneous place recognition in rats

There has been accumulating evidence that chemokines play an important role in cerebral ischemia. Chemokines-like factor 1 (CKLF1), as a novel C-C chemokine, is upregulated in cerebral ischemia. In this study we examined the protective effect of C19, a C-terminal peptide of chemokine-like factor 1, in an animal model of cerebral ischemia. Adult rats were anesthetized with chloral hydrate. C19 was given intracerebroventricularly immediately after 60 min middle cerebral artery occlusion. Animals were examined for their neurological function, infarct size and water content at 24 h after reperfusion. The result showed that C19 (0.1, 1, 10 or 50 μg) significantly improved neurological function, decreased infarct size and water content in a dose-dependent manner. In contrast, application of C19 (50 μg) showed no effect in normal rats. Taken together, our data suggest that C19 is protective against ischemic brain injury, and may be an ideal peptide drug for the treatment of cerebral ischemia.     

缺血后适应对大鼠脑缺血/再灌注损伤的影响

目的：探讨缺血后适应对大鼠脑缺血/再灌注损伤的影响。方法:应用线栓法制作大鼠脑缺血/再灌注损伤模型；21只雄性SD大鼠随机分为缺血/再灌注组、夹闭单侧颈总动脉后处理组和夹闭双侧颈总动脉后处理组，每组7只。再灌注48 h，测定脑梗死体积；拔栓后1 h及处死大鼠前进行神经功能测定；梗死即刻、梗死后10 min、术中1 h、拔栓后即刻、每次夹/松颈总动脉时、干预后30 min等15个时点监测脑血流。结果:夹闭单侧、双侧颈总动脉后处理组大鼠脑组织梗死体积与缺血/再灌注组相比明显减小，有显著差异；3组脑血流各个时点方差分析差异无显著，但是夹闭双侧颈总动脉后处理组干预30 min后脑血流百分比较缺血/再灌注组、夹闭单侧颈总动脉后处理组降低9％。手术后1 h 3组神经功能评分P<0.05，差异显著，夹闭单侧、双侧颈总动脉后处理组神经功能缺损均比缺血/再灌注组减轻。结论:缺血后适应能够明显减小梗塞体积，改善大鼠术后1h神经功能评分，可能与缺血后适应调节早期再灌注时血流动力学状态有关。     

肢体缺血后适应对小鼠脑缺血再灌注损伤的影响及机制

目的:建立小鼠脑缺血后进行短暂肢体缺血提高脑缺血耐受模型,确定肢体缺血后适应对脑缺血时程的影响及热休克蛋白70(HSP70)的作用,探讨肢体缺血后适应(LIPostC)对脑缺血/再灌注损伤抑制作用和机制。方法:复制小鼠大脑中动脉闭塞模型(MCAO),第1批实验将小鼠分为9组:假手术组、脑缺血/再灌注组(缺血时间分别0.5 h、1 h、1.5 h、2 h组),脑缺血/再灌注+短暂肢体缺血(LIPostC)组(0.5 h+LIPostC、1 h+LIPostC、1.5 h+LIPostC、2 h+LIPostC组)。分别观察小鼠运动行为变化;TTC染色测量脑梗死体积;HE染色观察脑组织损伤程度;TUNEL法检测神经元凋亡程度。第2批实验将小鼠随机分为4组:假手术组、脑缺血/再灌注组、MCAO+LIPostC组和MCAO+LIPostC+quercetin组(缺血时间为2 h)。术后24 h用Western blotting法检测脑皮质中HSP70蛋白表达和神经功能评分。结果:脑缺血时程影响小鼠运动行为和脑损伤程度,随脑缺血时间延长,小鼠的脑再灌注损伤程度加重,其行为缺陷和脑病理变化明显;缺血2 h组脑损伤程度比缺血1.5 h组和缺血1 h组严重(P0.05)。脑缺血后不同时间施加LIPostC显示不同程度的神经保护作用。LIPostC各组与相对应的I/R组比较,其脑再灌注损伤程度呈现不同程度减轻,行为学评分降低、脑梗死体积减小,脑皮质损伤减轻,TUNEL阳性凋亡细胞数目减少。脑缺血2 h再灌注损伤较重,但LIPostC仍具有明显的脑保护作用。以2 h脑缺血小鼠为模型进行机制研究,结果表明,LIPostC可提高缺血脑组织HSP70蛋白表达,改善神经功能,HSP70抑制剂quercetin可削弱LIPostC的这种脑保护作用。结论:LIPostC可抑制MCAO小鼠的脑缺血再灌注损伤,促进缺血脑区HSP70表达和改善神经功能。HSP70在LIPostC提高MCAO小鼠的脑缺血耐受机制中发挥重要作用。     

Neuroprotective properties of prostaglandin I2 IP receptor in focal cerebral ischemia

We and others have identified that inhibition of cyclooxygenase might not be the optimal approach to limiting brain damage after stroke. Now we are investigating the unique properties of the various prostaglandin receptors to determine whether blocking those that mediate toxicity or stimulating those that reduce toxicity will improve neurological outcomes. Here, we determined the respective contribution of the prostaglandin I₂ (PGI₂) receptor in transient middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion (tMCAO) and permanent MCAO (pMCAO) preclinical stroke models by using male wildtype (WT) and IP receptor knockout (IP^−/−) C57Bl/6 mice. In addition, we investigated the putative preventive and therapeutic effects of the IP receptor agonist beraprost. The infarct volumes and neurological deficit scores (NDS) were significantly greater in IP^−/− than in WT mice after both tMCAO and pMCAO. Interestingly, beraprost pretreatment (50 or 100 μg/kg p.o.) 30 min before tMCAO and post-treatment (100 μg/kg p.o.) at 2 or 4.5 h of reperfusion significantly reduced the neurological deficit score and infarct volume in WT mice. Post-treatment with beraprost (100 μg/kg p.o.) 4.5 h after pMCAO also significantly decreased neurological deficits and infarct volume in WT mice. Together, these novel findings suggest for the first time that PGI₂ IP receptor activation can attenuate anatomical and functional damage following ischemic stroke.     

尼古丁对大鼠局灶性脑缺血再灌注损伤的神经保护作用

目的:研究尼古丁对大鼠局灶性脑缺血再灌注损伤是否具有神经保护作用。方法:在大鼠大脑中动脉堵塞(MCAO)前30min给予腹腔注射尼古丁酒石酸盐溶液,观察局灶性脑缺血2h再灌注24h后,大鼠神经行为学评分及脑梗死容积的变化。结果:再灌注24h后,与单纯缺血再灌注组相比,给予尼古丁酒石酸盐溶液注射可以改善动物的神经行为学评分、减少脑梗死容积百分比(P0.05)。结论:尼古丁对大鼠局灶性脑缺血再灌注损伤具有神经保护作用。     

Nylon filament coated with paraffin for intraluminal permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion in rats

A variety of intraluminal nylon filament has been used in rat middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) models. However the lesion extent and its reproducibility vary among laboratories. The properties of nylon filament play a part of reasons for these variations. In the present study, we used paraffin-coated nylon filament for rat MCAO model, tested the effects and advanced improvement for making the rat MCAO. Forty male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomized into two groups, MCAO with traditional uncoated nylon filament (uMCAO) and MCAO with paraffin-coated nylon filament (cMCAO), three rats as normal group and sham group respectively. Assessment included mortality rates, model success rates, neurological deficit evaluation, and infarct volume. The study showed two rats died in uMCAO group, no rat died in cMCAO group within the 12 h. The model success rate of uMCAO was 100%, while the uMCAO group was 55% (n = 20, two died within 12 h, seven rats were excluded as the brain slices showed no TTC staining due to subarachanoid hemorrhage). Neurological evaluation demonstrated group cMCAO had more worse neurological outcomes than group uMCAO, and the difference was statistically signification (p < 0.05). TTC staining cMCAO group had significantly larger infarct volumes than uMCAO group, and also showed statistically significant difference (p < 0.05). The result demonstrated that the paraffin-coated nylon filament intraluminal occlusion provide better occlusion of middle cerebral artery than the uncoated nylon filament, improve the consistent of model, and raise the success rate to reduce the number of experimental animals. These positive results are much encouraging and interesting.     

血压对大鼠脑缺血/再灌注损伤的影响

目的： 研究血压变化对大鼠脑缺血/再灌注模型的影响。方法: 44只SD大鼠随机分为低血压组、正常血压组、高血压组及尿激酶/高血压组,制作缺血2 h再灌注24 h脑缺血/再灌注损伤模型,再灌注起始分别应用降压药物或升压药物改变平均动脉压水平（约20 mmHg）持续1 h,观察其神经功能改善、梗死体积、出血性转化的发生。结果: 再灌注24 h,低血压组神经功能恶化,其它各组均有不同程度的恢复;随着血压的升高,大鼠脑梗死体积有逐渐减小的趋势;尿激酶/高血压组出血性转化发生率最高,其次为低血压组及高血压组,而正常血压组最低;尿激酶/高血压组梗死灶周围皮层区MMP-9阳性细胞计数与其它各组比较均有显著差异（P<0.05）。结论: 再灌注期间升高血压有利于脑缺血大鼠神经功能预后的改善。大鼠脑缺血再灌注模型出血性转化发生率随着血压的升高或降低均有增加的趋势,其发生可能与MMP-9的过量表达有关。     

Effect of hemoglobin vesicle,a cellular-type artificial oxygen carrier,on middle cerebral artery occlusion- and arachidonic acid-induced stroke models in rats

Hemoglobin vesicle (HbV), which is also called liposome-encapsulated hemoglobin, functions as a hemoglobin-based oxygen carrier and is expected to be utilized in emergency situations including hemorrhagic shock and several kinds of ischemic diseases. In the present study, we evaluated the efficacy of HbV for improving stroke-related symptoms induced by middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion/reperfusion and an intra-internal carotid arterial injection of arachidonic acid (AA) in rats. When HbV (10 mL/kg, i.v.) was administered to rats immediately after the MCA occlusion, it reduced the cerebral infarct volumes of the cortex and total of the cortex plus sub-cortex significantly as compared with saline as a vehicle. In AA-induced stroke model, HbV (10 mL/kg, i.v.) improved the motor dysfunction score and inhibited the increase in cerebral water content suggesting it could suppress cerebral edema. These results strongly suggest that HbV would provide a novel beneficial option for the treatment of stroke, especially acute ischemic stroke.     

Atorvastatin protects rat brains against permanent focal ischemia and downregulates HMGB1, HMGB1 receptors (RAGE and TLR4), NF-κB expression

Inflammatory processes play a key, mainly detrimental role in the pathophysiology of ischemic stroke. Currently, HMGB1-induced NF-κB activation pathway has been recognized as a key contributor to the proinflammatory response. It has been proved that chronic administration and pre-treatment with statins could protect brain tissue against ischemic injury. However, little is known about the effects of statins in the acute phase after cerebral ischemia. Thus, this study investigated the atorvastatin's protective role and the underlying mechanisms in cerebral ischemia. After middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO), atorvastatin was administered immediately. We found that atorvastatin dramatically improved neurological deficits, reduced brain water contents and infarct sizes at 24 h after stroke. Moreover, the over-expression of HMGB1, RAGE, TLR4 and NF-κB induced by ischemia was significantly attenuated by atorvastatin.     

小鼠脑缺血时自噬相关基因5的抗损伤作用

 目的: 观察自噬相关基因5(Atg5)在小鼠脑缺血再灌注损伤中的抗损伤作用。方法: 将雄性BALB/c小鼠随机分为假手术(sham)组、缺血再灌注(I/R)组、Atg5 siRNA组和control siRNA组。I/R组采用大脑中动脉阻塞(MCAO)60 min后再灌注24 h。Atg5 siRNA组和control siRNA组将5 μL Atg5 siRNA或scrambled siRNA在MCAO前24 h侧脑室注射。实时荧光定量PCR和Western blot检测Atg5的表达;2,3,5-氯化三苯基四氮唑(TTC)染色法检测抑制Atg5对缺血再灌注损伤后脑梗死面积和水肿率的影响;神经行为学评分法检测抑制Atg5对缺血再灌注损伤后神经症状的影响。结果: MCAO后再灌24 h,缺血半影区Atg5 mRNA和蛋白水平显著增高(P<0.05);Atg5 siRNA明显降低缺血再灌后Atg5 mRNA和蛋白的表达(P<0.05);侧脑室给予Atg5 siRNA能显著增加脑梗死面积和水肿率,并加重神经行为学损伤(P<0.05)。结论: 沉默Atg5加重小鼠脑缺血再灌损伤,提示MCAO后诱导的 Atg5 可减轻小鼠局灶性脑缺血再灌注损伤。     

Effect of anesthesia and cerebral blood flow on neuronal injury in a rat middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model

Middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) models have become well established as the most suitable way to simulate stroke in experimental studies. The high variability in the size of the resulting infarct due to filament composition, rodent strain and vessel anatomy makes the setup of such models very complex. Beside controllable variables of homeostasis, the choice of anesthetics and the grade of ischemia and reperfusion played a major role for extent of neurological injury. Transient MCAO was induced during either isoflurane or ketamine/xylazine (ket/xyl) anesthesia with simultaneously measurement of cerebral blood flow (CBF) in 60 male Wistar rats (380–420 g). Neurological injury was quantified after 24 h. Isoflurane compared with ket/xyl improved mortality 24 h after MCAO (10 vs. 50 %, p = 0.037) and predominantly led to striatal infarcts (78 vs. 18 %, p = 0.009) without involvement of the neocortex and medial caudoputamen. Independent of anesthesia type, cortical infarcts could be predicted with a sensitivity of 67 % and a specificity of 100 % if CBF did not exceed 35 % of the baseline value during ischemia. In all other cases, cortical infarcts developed if the reperfusion values remained below 50 %. Hyperemia during reperfusion significantly increased infarct and edema volumes. The cause of frequent striatal infarcts after isoflurane anesthesia might be attributed to an improved CBF during ischemia (46 ± 15 % vs. 35 ± 19 %, p = 0.04). S-100β release, edema volume and upregulation of IL-6 and IL-1β expression were impeded by isoflurane. Thus, anesthetic management as well as the grade of ischemia and reperfusion after transient MCAO demonstrated important effects on neurological injury.     

Post-treatment of a BiP inducer prevents cell death after middle cerebral artery occlusion in mice

We previously reported the effect of a selective inducer of BiP (a BiP inducer X; BIX) after permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in mice. However, in acute stroke, almost all drugs have been used clinically after the onset of events. We evaluated the effect of post-treatment of BIX after permanent MCAO in mice, and examined its neuroprotective properties in in vivo mechanism. BIX (intracerebroventricular injection at 20 μg) administered either at 5 min or 3 h after occlusion reduced both infarct volume and brain swelling, but at 6 h after occlusion there was no reduction. BIX protected against the decrease in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, BIX reduced the number of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL)-positive cells induced by the ischemia in ischemic penumbra. These findings indicate that post-treatment with BIX after ischemia has neuroprotective effects against acute ischemic neuronal damage in mice even when given up to 3 h after MCAO. BIX may therefore be a potential drug for stroke.     

Neuroprotective effects of olprinone after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats

Olprinone hydrochloride, a specific phosphodiesterase III inhibitor, has anti-inflammatory effects in addition to its inotropic and vasodilatory effects. The purpose of this study was to examine the beneficial effects of olprinone on cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury. In the present study, we examined the detailed mechanisms underlying the inhibitory effects of olprinone on inflammatory and apoptotic responses induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo) in rats. Focal cerebral ischemia was induced by transient MCAo in the right hemisphere, via the external carotid artery into the internal carotid to block the origin of the median carotid artery. The rats were subjected to artery occlusion (2 h) followed by reperfusion (22 h). Olprinone was administered 5 min before reperfusion. MCAo-induced cerebral ischemia was associated with an increase in inducible nitric oxide synthase expression, nitrotyrosine formation, as well as IL-1β expression and ICAM-1 expression in ischemic regions. Olprinone treatment showed marked reduction in infarct size compared with control rats. These expressions were markedly inhibited by olprinone treatment. We also demonstrated that olprinone reduces levels of apoptosis (TUNEL, Bax and Bcl-2 expression) resulting in a reduction in the infarct volume in ischemia-reperfusion brain injury. Based on these findings we propose that olprinone would be useful in lowering the risk of damage or improving function in ischemia-reperfusion brain injury-related disorders.     

Post-ischemic administration of peptide with apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease activity inhibits induction of cell death after focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion in mice

Previous scientific research has elucidated the correlation between changes in levels of the DNA base excision repair protein, apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease/redox factor-1 (APE/Ref-1), and ischemic neuronal DNA damage. However, to date, no studies have addressed the question of whether treatment involving this protein's repair function may prevent ischemic neuron death in vivo. Therefore, we aimed to investigate whether treatment with APE peptide is sufficient to prevent neuron death after ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) in mice. Mice were subjected to intraluminal suture occlusion of the middle cerebral artery for 1 h followed by reperfusion. Post-ischemic treatment with the peptide containing only the APE repair functional domain was introduced intracerebroventricularly. Endonuclease activity assay and immunohistochemistry were performed. Assays of apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP) sites, single-strand DNA breaks, caspase-3 activity, and cell death were examined and quantified. We found that post-ischemic administration of the APE peptide up to 4 h after reperfusion significantly inhibited the induction of cell death and subsequent infarct volume, measured 24 h after I/R.     

Neuroprotective effects of group II metabotropic glutamate receptor agonist DCG-IV on hippocampal neurons in transient forebrain ischemia

Activation of group II metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR) inhibits the excessive release of glutamate that may be crucial in the pathogenesis of cerebral ischemia. This study investigated the protective effects of the group II mGluR agonist (2S,2′R,3′R)-2-(2′,3′-dicarboxycyclopropyl)glycine (DCG-IV), against cerebral ischemia by examining extracellular glutamate concentration ([Glu]e) and neuronal damage in a rat model of transient forebrain ischemia. Cerebral ischemia was induced by 5 min of bilateral carotid artery occlusion and hypotension. DCG-IV (10, 100, or 250 pmol) was administered into the lateral ventricle four times every 12 h from 36 h before the start of ischemia, or administered intraperitoneally (40 μmol/kg) 24 h before ischemia, and the effect of the group II mGluR antagonist (LY341495) was also examined. [Glu]e in the CA1 subfield was measured by microdialysis during the peri-ischemic period, and the survival rate of CA1 neurons was evaluated 5 days after ischemia. [Glu]e increased significantly after cerebral ischemia and reached the maximum at 1 min after reperfusion, then gradually decreased and returned to the preischemic level in the vehicle group. The intraventricular injection of DCG-IV (250 pmol) significantly attenuated the [Glu]e increase and significantly increased the survival rate of CA1 neurons. Co-injection of LY341495 reversed the protective effects of DCG-IV. These results suggest that pretreatment with DCG-IV has neuroprotective effects against ischemic neuronal injuries through the inhibition of the glutamate release via the activation of group II mGluR.     

Myocardial infarction quantification with late gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging in rats using a 7-T scanner

AimsThe objective of this study was to noninvasively measure the volume of myocardial infarction in rats, using delayed enhancement magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in a coronary occlusion/reperfusion model on a 7-T scanner.MethodsAt 24 h after cardiac ischemia, contrast-enhanced MRI was performed. Two distinct experimental groups were compared: one was subjected to permanent ischemia (PL) and the other was subjected to 30 min of ischemia followed by 24 h of reperfusion (IR). The sizes of enhanced regions were compared to triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC)-stained sections of the excised rat heart. Cardiomyocyte apoptosis was analyzed by TUNEL methods, and neutrophils and macrophages were quantitated after histology and immunohistochemical staining.ResultsTwenty-four hours after ischemia, delayed hyperenhancement imaging was clearly visualized in the anterior left ventricular walls corresponding to the infarcted myocardium. In the PL group, infarct size was 37.2±9.8% (LV %) as measured by MRI and 38.8±9% (LV %) by TTC (P=NS). In the IR group, infarct size was 23.2±8.8% (LV %) as measured by MRI and 24.4±9.2% (LV %) by TTC (P=NS). Infarction volume measured with MRI was strongly correlated to TTC staining (R=0.82 for PL, R=0.973 for IR). Increased inflammatory cell infiltration was detected in the infarct area of the heart after reperfusion compared to permanent ligation (P<.01). The ratio of TUNEL-positive cardiomyocytes to total number of cardiomyocytes in the IR group was significantly reduced as compared to the PL group (P<.01).ConclusionsMRI can accurately assess infarct size in intact rats early after MI. After transient arterial occlusion, the size of the myocardial infarct was found to be significantly smaller as compared to permanent occlusion.     

Neuroprotective effects of the novel brain-penetrating antioxidant U-101033E and the spin-trapping agent α-phenyl-N-tert-butyl nitrone (PBN)

Literature on the therapeutic efficacy of free radical scavengers suggests that drugs that are able to cross the blood-brain barrier are more effective in protecting the brain from ischemic damage. However, the exact mechanisms by which brain-penetrating antioxidants act have yet not been delineated. We compared the neuroprotective potential of the newly discovered pyrrolopyrimidine U-101033E with that of α-phenyl-N-tert-butyl nitrone (PBN) and investigated their influence on cerebral blood flow. Thirty male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to 90 min of middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion by an intraluminal filament. Local cerebral blood flow (LCBF) was bilaterally recorded by laser Doppler flowmetry. Neurological deficits were quantified daily. Infarct volume was assessed after 7 days. MCA occlusion reduced ipsilateral LCBF to 20–30% of baseline. After reperfusion, postischemic hyperemia was followed by a decrease in LCBF to about 70% of baseline. There was no difference in LCBF among groups. U-101033E improved neurological function and reduced infarct volume by 52% (P<0.05). Improvement of neurological function and reduction of infarct volume (–25%) in animals treated with PBN was not significant. We conclude that U-101033E has superior neuroprotective properties compared with PBN. Neither drug improves blood flow during ischemia and 1 h of reperfusion. The mechanisms by which these brain-penetrating antioxidants act remain to be clarified. Received: 17 March 1999 / Accepted: 12 July 1999