Neuroprotective effect of immunosuppressant FK506 in transient focal ischemia in rat: therapeutic time window for FK506 in transient focal ischemia.

Tacrolimus (FK506), an immunosuppressant currently used in clinic, is known to have neuroprotective properties. However, effects in focal ischemia are shown only in a endothelin induced middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion model or with filament technique at a relatively high dose. We have previously shown that FK506 had significant protective effects at a low dose of 0.3 mg kg(-1) when administered immediately after ischemia. In this study, we explored the therapeutic time window of FK506 at this low dose, in a transient focal ischemia model using filament technique. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to 2 h MCA occlusion and subsequent reperfusion. They received FK506 or vehicle (0.3 mg kg(-1)) i.v. at 30, 60 or 120 min after induction of ischemia, and were decapitated 24 h after ischemia. FK506 injected at 30 and 60 min significantly reduced cortical infarction volume (FK506 vs. vehicle; 30 min: 95 +/- 33 mm3 vs. 170 +/- 62 mm3, p < 0.05; 60 min: 93 +/- 45 mm3, vs. 168 +/- 35 mm3, p < 0.05, respectively). FK506 was ineffective when given at 120 min after ischemia. FK506 had no effect on edema formation, nor on the infarct volume in striatum. The therapeutic time window for this low dose of FK506 given i.v. is between 60 and 120 min in this model.     

Dose-dependent neuroprotection with tiagabine in a focal cerebral ischemia model in rat

Enhancement of the inhibitory activity of GABA may protect ischemic neurons. We evaluated the neuroprotective effect of tiagabine, a novel GABA agonist, in reversible focal cerebral ischemia rats subjected to 2h middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion. Tiagabine was given at 10, 20 and 40 mg/kg, i.p., 2 h after the onset of reperfusion. We found that post-ischemia treatment with tiagabine improved neurobehavioral outcome and reduced brain infarction volume in a dose-dependent manner. The data suggest that post-ischemic administration of tiagabine is neuroprotective in the focal cerebral ischemia model.     

Therapeutic window for nicotinamide following transient focal cerebral ischemia

The therapeutic window with the neuroprotectant nicotinamide (NAm) was tested in a model of stroke. Either 2, 4 or 6 h after the onset of transient (2 h) focal cerebral ischemia, Wistar rats received either saline or NAm (500 mg/kg). Sensory and motor behavioral scores and weight of the animals were obtained before surgery, and 2 h, 3 and 7 days after stroke onset. Cerebral infarct volumes were measured on day 7 after sacrifice. NAm given 4 or 6 h after stroke onset significantly (p<0.05) reduced the cerebral infarction and improved the behavioral scores, respectively, compared to saline-injected animals. There was a non-significant improvement in weight gained by NAm-treated rats at 3 and 7 days following stroke compared to the saline-injected controls.     

Wide therapeutic time window for fasudil neuroprotection against ischemia-induced delayed neuronal death in gerbils

The neuroprotective potential and therapeutic time window for fasudil, a Rho-kinase inhibitor (RKI), were evaluated for delayed neuronal death in gerbils. A preliminary screening was done on fasudil, ozagrel, and edaravone using a single administration in a delayed neuronal death study. Intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of edaravone, a free radical scavenger (3, 10 mg/kg) immediately after re-circulation did not reduce neuronal degeneration. We previously reported that ozagrel, a thromboxane A(2) synthetase inhibitor (30 mg/kg) also did not reduce neuronal degeneration, while fasudil (3, 30 mg/kg) significantly protected against the ischemia-induced neuronal loss. To clarify the therapeutic time window of fasudil, which showed a positive effect in a preliminary screening, animals received their first i.p. administration of fasudil (10 mg/kg) 24 or 48 h after ischemia. Administration of fasudil twice daily was continued until day 6. Fasudil significantly protected against the ischemia-induced delayed neuronal death when the treatment was started 24 h after ischemia. In gerbils, hydroxyfasudil, an active metabolite of fasudil, was found following an i.p. administration of fasudil (10 mg/kg), and the value of the area under the plasma level curve of hydroxyfasudil was 7 times higher than that of fasudil. Hydroxyfasudil may contribute to the potency of fasudil. The present findings indicate that the RKI fasudil reduces ischemic neuronal damage with a wide therapeutic time window in gerbil, and may be useful in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke in humans.     

Extended therapeutic time window after focal cerebral ischemia by non-competitive inhibition of AMPA receptors

In acute stroke, the therapeutic time window is a critical factor which may have contributed to the failure of several phase III clinical trials with so-called neuroprotective agents. Since cerebral glutamate levels are elevated for many hours in progressing stroke, we investigated the novel AMPA glutamate receptor antagonist ZK 187638 in rodent models of stroke using up to 12 h delays in the start of therapy after permanent occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (MCA). In rats, ZK 187638 reduced total infarct volume by 43% and 33% when therapy was started immediately or with a delay of 6 h, respectively, but no effect was observed after a 12 h delay. Dose-dependent decreases of total infarct volume (up to 42%) were measured in mice given the first injection of ZK 187638 6 h after permanent MCA occlusion. In conclusion, the AMPA receptor antagonist ZK 187638 has a therapeutic time window of at least 6 h after permanent focal cerebral ischemia in rodents.     

铁螯合剂-DFX通过保护血脑屏障减轻大鼠短暂性局灶性脑缺血后出血性转化的研究

目的 旨在明确铁螯合剂-DFX能否减轻大鼠短暂性局灶性脑缺血后出血性转化的发生率和程度,并探讨减轻出血性转化的机制.方法 采用高血糖结合大脑中动脉线栓(MCAO)2h再灌注模型,将98只SD大鼠随机分为DFX组和对照组,分别观察其死亡率和出血性转化率、脑梗死体积、脑水肿程度、出血体积及血脑屏障通透性.结果 MCAO 2h再灌注2h,DFX组患侧半球Evans-blue漏出率明显低于对照组(P ＜0.01);MCAO缺血2h再灌注6h,DFX组出血量明显少于对照组(P ＜0.05);MCAO缺血2h再灌注22h,DFX组动物死亡率、脑梗死体积、基底节区脑肿胀比率均明显低于对照组(P＜0.05).结论 DFX通过保护血脑屏障减少了出血性转化的发生率及其伴随的脑损伤.     

Therapeutic window for cinnamophilin following oxygen-glucose deprivation and transient focal cerebral ischemia

Cinnamophilin (CINN, (8R, 8′S)-4, 4′-dihydroxy-3, 3′-dimethoxy-7-oxo-8, 8′-neolignan) protects against ischemic stroke in mice. While some anti-oxidative effects of CINN have been characterized, its therapeutic window and molecular basis for neuroprotection remain unclear. We evaluated antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and therapeutic window of CINN against brain ischemia using a panel of in vitro and in vivo assays. Data from lipid peroxidation and radical scavenging assays showed that CINN was a robust antioxidant and radical scavenger. CINN effectively inhibited the production of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), nitrite/nitrate, interleukin-6 (IL-6) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 and BV2 cells (P < 0.05, respectively). Relative to controls, CINN, administrated at 80 mg/kg, 2, 4, or 6 h postinsult, but not 12 h, significantly reduced brain infarction by 34-43% (P < 0.05) and improved neurobehavioral outcome (P < 0.05) following transient focal cerebral ischemia in rats. CINN (10-30 μM) also significantly reduced oxygen-glucose deprivation-induced neuronal damage (P < 0.05) in rat organotypic hippocampal slices, even when it was administrated 2, 4, or 6 h postinsult. Together, CINN protects against ischemic brain damage with a therapeutic window up to 6 h in vivo and in vitro, which may, at least in part, be attributed by its direct antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.     

Neuroprotective effect of immunosuppressant FK506 in transient focal ischemia in rats: Therapeutic time window for FK506 in transient focal ischemia

Abstract

Tacrolimus (FK506), an immunosuppressant currently used in clinic, is known to have neuroprotective properties. However, effects in focal ischemia are shown only in a endothelin induced middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion model or with filament technique at a relatively high dose. We have previously shown that FK506 had significant protective effects at a low dose of 0.3mg kg^-1 when administered immediately after ischemia. In this study, we explored the therapeutic time window of FK506 at this low dose, in a transient focal ischemia model using filament technique. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to 2 h MCA occlusion and subsequent reperfusion. They received FK506 or vehicle (0.3 mg kg^-1) i.v. at 30, 60 or 120 min after induction of ischemia, and were decapitated 24 h after ischemia. FK506 injected at 30 and 60 min significantly reduced cortical infarction volume (FK506 vs. vehicle; 30 min: 95 ± 33 mm³ vs. 170 ± 62 mm³, p < 0.05; 60 min: 93 ± 45 mm³, vs. 168 ± 35 mm³, p < 0.05, respectively). FK506 was ineffective when given at 120 min after ischemia. FK506 had no effect on edema formation, nor on the infarct volume in striatum. The therapeutic time window for this low dose of FK506 given i.v. is between 60 and 120 min in this model. [Neurol Res 2001; 23: 755-760]     

Selective mGluR5 receptor antagonist or agonist provides neuroprotection in a rat model of focal cerebral ischemia

Activation of group I metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluR) has been implicated in the pathophysiology of acute central nervous system injury. However, the relative roles of the two group I subtypes, mGluR1 or mGluR5, in such injury has not been well examined. We compared the effects of treatment with the newly developed, selective mGluR5 antagonist 2-methyl-6-phenylethynylpyridine (MPEP) and the selective mGluR5 agonist (R,S)-2-chloro-5-hydroxyphenylglycine (CHPG) in a rat intraluminal filament model of temporary middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo). Rats were administered MPEP or CHPG i.c.v. beginning 15 or 135 min after induction of ischemia for 2 h. Infarct size was measured after either 22 or 70 h of reperfusion, and neurological function was quantified at 2, 24, 48 and 72 h. Treatment with MPEP or CHPG at 15 min reduced 24 h infarct volume by 61 and 44%, respectively. The neuroprotective effects were dose dependent. Delaying MPEP treatment until 135 min eliminated the neuroprotective effects. In other studies, using early MPEP treatment (15 min) at optimal doses, infarct volume was reduced by 44% at 72 h and this was correlated with significant neurological recovery. These data suggest that both MPEP and CHPG are neuroprotective when administered after focal cerebral ischemia. In separate, recent studies we found that although MPEP does act as an mGluR5 antagonist and blocks agonist induced phosphoinositide hydrolysis, it also serves as a non-competitive NMDA antagonist; in contrast, other results indicate that CHPG mediated neuroprotection may reflect anti-apoptotic activity. Therefore, both types of compounds may prove to have therapeutic potential for the treatment of stroke.     

Short therapeutic window for nifedipine in transient intrauterine ischemia in fetal rat brain

The aim of this study was to explore whether nifedipine influences the secondary deterioration of cerebral mitochondrial function after transient intrauterine ischemia in fetal rats. Intrauterine ischemia was induced by a 30-min occlusion of the right uterine artery at 20 days of gestation in Wistar rats. Nifedipine (1 mg kg(-1)) or vehicle was injected subcutaneously before the onset of ischemia or 1 h after the start of recirculation. Fetuses were delivered by cesarean section at the end of ischemia (n=6 with vehicle; n=6 with nifedipine pretreatment) or at 4 h of recirculation (n=6 with vehicle; n=6 with nifedipine pretreatment; n=6 with nifedipine posttreatment), and the cerebral mitochondrial respiration was measured polarographically. Tissue oxygen tension was evaluated in placental and fetal cerebral tissues (n=5 with vehicle; n=5 with nifedipine pretreatment). The vehicle treated animals showed a significant decrease in mitochondrial activities at the end of ischemia and 4 h of recirculation. Nifedipine attenuates the secondary deterioration at 4 h of recirculation when given just prior to ischemia, but had no neuroprotective activity when given 1 h after the start of recirculation. Nifedipine pretreatment had no influence on oxygen delivery in placenta and fetal cerebrum during and after ischemia. Despite the short therapeutic window, the treatment of nifedipine attenuates the secondary deterioration of cerebral mitochondrial function after transient intrauterine ischemia in fetal rats when given just prior to ischemia.     

Caffeinol confers cortical but not subcortical neuroprotection after transient focal cerebral ischemia in rats

The combination of low-dose ethanol and caffeine (caffeinol) protects cortical areas of the brain from damage produced by distal focal ischemia in rats. There are no data, however, as to whether caffeinol influences injury in subcortical brain regions. Rats were anesthetized with halothane and subjected to 2 h of MCAo by poly-l-lysine-coated intraluminal suture. Caffeinol [a combination of ethanol, 0.33 g/kg, and caffeine, 10 mg/kg (n=5)] or vehicle (0.9% NaCl; n=7) was administered by i.v. infusion over a 2.5-h period beginning 15 min after reperfusion. Neurological status was evaluated daily, and histopathology was quantified at 3 days. Caffeinol therapy significantly improved the neurological score, reduced the total infarct volume (by 52%) and cortical infarct areas at multiple coronal levels, but subcortical infarction and brain swelling were not affected.     

升压治疗局灶性脑缺血再灌注损伤的时间窗研究

目的　探讨升压治疗对局灶性脑缺血的保护作用及治疗时间窗。方法　采用大鼠局灶性脑缺血再灌注模型 ,30只大鼠随即分为 6组 :对照组、缺血即刻升压、缺血 1h升压、缺血 2h升压、缺血 3h升压、缺血 4h升压。观察血脑屏障破坏程度、脑梗死体积的情况。结果　缺血后 3h、4h升压后脑梗死体积与对照组分别为 4 0 9.96± 79.34mm3 、4 13.13± 6 8.14mm3 、4 10 .8± 87.6 9mm3 无统计学差异 (P >0 .0 5 ) ,且血脑屏障破坏程度明显大于对照组。结论　缺血 3h再灌注时 ,升压时间窗不超过 2h。     

Delayed and multiple hyperbaric oxygen treatments expand therapeutic window in rat focal cerebral ischemic model

Although the brain-protective effect of single, early applications of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) has been reported in acute ischemic stroke models, few studies have reported the long-term effect—especially after multiple HBO applications. This study employed delayed, multiple HBO treatments and evaluated cerebral infarction and neurological functional recovery for 4 weeks after transient focal ischemia. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MCAO/R) and were subsequently exposed to HBO (2.5 atmospheres absolute [ATA]) for 2 hours per day. HBO was administered at either 6 or 24 hours after MCAO/R and was repeated daily for 6 days. Rat behavior was scored to evaluate neurological deficits. The brains were removed for histological analysis of the infarct ratio at 1 and 4 weeks. Rats with HBO delayed for 6 or 24 hours following MCAO/R displayed a significant decrease of infarct ratio and amelioration of neurological deficits compared to the untreated group. This study suggests that delayed, but multiple, HBO treatments can improve neurological evaluation and reduce cerebral infarction.     

Therapeutic time window for the neuroprotective effects of NGF when administered after focal cerebral ischemia

In the present study, we evaluated the neuroprotection time window for nerve growth factor (NGF) after ischemia/reperfusion brain injury in rabbits as related to this anti-apoptosis mechanism. Male New Zealand rabbits were subjected to 2 h of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO), followed by 70 h of reperfusion. NGF was administered after injury to evaluate the time window. Neurological deficits, infarct volume, neural cell apoptosis and expressions of caspase-3 and Bcl-2 were measured. Compared to saline-treated control, NGF treatment at 2, 3 and 5 h after MCAO significantly reduced infarct volume, neural cell apoptosis and expression of caspase-3 (P < 0.01), up-regulated the expression of Bcl-2 and improved functional recovery (P < 0.01). However, treatment at latter time points did not produce significant neuroprotection. Neuroprotection treatment with NGF provides an extended time window of up to 5 h after ischemia/reperfusion brain injury, in part by attenuating the apoptosis.     

大鼠脑缺血及再灌注损伤的亚低温治疗时间窗研究

目的研究大鼠脑缺血再灌注损伤的亚低温(32±1℃)治疗时间窗,探讨最长脑缺血时间和开始低温时间所能获得的有效脑保护作用.方法采用改良线栓法制备大鼠大脑中动脉缺血再灌注模型.将72只SD大鼠随机分为12组,缺血后常温组(分4个亚组)缺血4、6、8及10小时后再灌注亚组;缺血后亚低温组(缺血模型建立后开始亚低温并持续12小时,分4个亚组)缺血4、6、8及10小时后再灌注亚组;再灌注期亚低温组(再灌注后开始亚低温并持续12小时,分4个亚组)缺血4、6、8、及10小时后再灌注亚组.观察脑梗死体积、脑组织水分含量和病理改变.结果缺血后亚低温能显著减小脑梗死体积(与对照组比较,脑梗死体积减小92.2%～65.3%;再灌注期亚低温组除缺血10小时后再灌注亚组无统计学意义外,其它亚组脑梗死体积减小68.4%～36.79%.结论结果显示缺血后亚低温的脑保护作用非常显著,提示超早期诱导亚低温可能延长溶栓治疗时间窗;缺血4小时后开始诱导亚低温效果较好,缺血8小时后开始诱导亚低温仍有效.     

Exendin-4, a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, provides neuroprotection in mice transient focal cerebral ischemia

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is an incretin hormone known to stimulate glucose-dependent insulin secretion. The GLP-1 receptor agonist, exendin-4, has similar properties to GLP-1 and is currently in clinical use for type 2 diabetes mellitus. As GLP-1 and exendin-4 confer cardioprotection after myocardial infarction, this study was designed to assess the neuroprotective effects of exendin-4 against cerebral ischemia–reperfusion injury. Mice received a transvenous injection of exendin-4, after a 60-minute focal cerebral ischemia. Exendin-4-treated vehicle and sham groups were evaluated for infarct volume, neurologic deficit score, various physiologic parameters, and immunohistochemical analyses at several time points after ischemia. Exendin-4 treatment significantly reduced infarct volume and improved functional deficit. It also significantly suppressed oxidative stress, inflammatory response, and cell death after reperfusion. Furthermore, intracellular cyclic AMP (cAMP) levels were slightly higher in the exendin-4 group than in the vehicle group. No serial changes were noted in insulin and glucose levels in both groups. This study suggested that exendin-4 provides neuroprotection against ischemic injury and that this action is probably mediated through increased intracellular cAMP levels. Exendin-4 is potentially useful in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke.     

A new model of transient focal cerebral ischemia for inducing selective neuronal necrosis

Brief cerebral ischemia leads to selective neuronal necrosis (SNN), which is characterized by neuronal death with sparing of glial and vascular elements of the central nervous system. Understanding the pathophysiology of SNN may help elucidating the mechanisms and consequences of neuronal injury in humans following brief ischemia. Contrary to the presence of reproducible models of transient global ischemia, animal models of transient focal ischemia producing SNN are scarce and have important limitations such as causing ischemia in a vast area and inducing additional insults. In this study, we developed a practical mouse model of SNN without these limitations, by compressing the distal middle cerebral artery (MCA) with a blunted micropipette for 15 min. The success of compression was evaluated by monitoring the regional cerebral blood flow, and conventional histopathology and immunolabeling of the brain sections. Seven/fourteen days after ischemia, intracisternally administered propidium iodide labeled numerous necrotic cells in the frontoparietal cortex, which were mostly NeuN-positive, but were not immunolabeled with astrocytic markers (GFAP and S100), and showed neuronal morphology with hematoxylin–eosin staining, indicating that the model successfully induced ischemic injury limited to neurons. The model could become an important tool for investigating the long-term effects of brief ischemic events like transient ischemic attacks and could offer convenient reversible distal MCA occlusion for studies using intravital microscopy.     

大鼠短暂局灶性脑缺血再灌注后核转录因子-kB的表达

目的　研究核转录因子 - k B(NF- k B)在局灶性脑缺血再灌注中的动态表达规律及其作用。方法　采用线栓法建立大鼠局灶性脑缺血再灌注模型。应用细胞免疫组织化学法分析 NF- k B的移位 ,采用 Western- blot法检测脑组织中核 NF- k B的表达量。结果　局灶性脑缺血再灌注后 NF- k B明显从细胞浆移位于细胞核 ,核 NF- k B的表达量显著增加 (P<0 .0 1)。结论　局灶性脑缺血再灌注能够引起 NF- k B的表达增加 ,进一步产生炎症和免疫反应 ,从而参与了脑缺血再灌注损伤的发病机制