Blockade of central histaminergic H2 receptors facilitates catecholaminergic metabolism and aggravates ischemic brain damage in the rat telencephalon

Blockade of central H(2) receptors aggravates ischemic neuronal damage. Since changes in the activity of the monoaminergic system are contributing factors in the development of ischemic neuronal damage, the authors evaluated the effects of ranitidine on the monoaminergic system and ischemic neuronal damage in the middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion model of rats. Wistar rats pretreated with saline or ranitidine (3 and 30 nmol, i.c.v.) were subjected to reversible occlusion of MCA for 2 h. The total infarct volume was determined 24 h after reperfusion. The relationship between dopaminergic activity and the histologic outcome was estimated by lesioning the substantia nigra 2 days before MCA occlusion. In a second experiment, the animals were subjected to 15 min of MCA occlusion, and the effects of ranitidine on the histologic outcome was evaluated 7 days after ischemia. In a third experiment, the tissue concentrations of monoamines and their metabolites were determined in the cerebral cortex and striatum 2 h after reperfusion following MCA occlusion for 2 h. The turnover of norepinephrine and dopamine was compared between animals treated with saline and those treated with ranitidine by estimating the alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine-induced depletion of norepinephrine and dopamine, respectively. The turnover of 5-hydroxytryptamine was evaluated by the probenecid-induced accumulation of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid. Treatments with ranitidine markedly increased the infarct volume 24 h after reperfusion. Ranitidine also aggravated delayed neuronal death 7 days after ischemia. The aggravation was abolished by the lesion of the substantia nigra before MCA occlusion. The MCA occlusion increased the turnover of cortical norepinephrine and striatal dopamine. The turnover was further facilitated by ranitidine. Although ranitidine suppressed the 5-hydroxytryptamine turnover in the cerebral cortex, the extent of this effect was similar in both the ischemic and non-ischemic sides. These results suggest that facilitation of the catecholaminergic systems is involved in the aggravation of ischemic neuronal damage by H(2) blockade.     

Therapeutic time window for YAG laser-induced reperfusion of thrombotic stroke in hypertensive rats

We examined the novel YAG laser-induced reperfusion method in the photothrombotic middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion model in spontaneously hypertensive rats. In the 1 h ischemia group, infarct volume was significantly reduced to 41.1 +/- 15.6 mm3 compared with 81.6 +/- 18.3 mm3 in the no-reperfusion group. There were no significant differences in infarct volume among 2 h or 3 h ischemia and no-reperfusion groups. Three of six rats in the 3 h ischemia group showed hemorrhagic infarction. Our present results showed that recirculation must be instituted within 2 h of MCA occlusion to get beneficial effects in our model, supporting the concept of a narrow therapeutic time window for intervention in ischemic stroke.     

SM-20220, a Na(+)/H(+) exchanger inhibitor: effects on ischemic brain damage through edema and neutrophil accumulation in a rat middle cerebral artery occlusion model

The Na(+)/H(+) exchanger (NHE) is activated during ischemia-reperfusion in an effort to restore intracellular pH to normal levels. The NHE is recognized to exist as a distinct protein in the plasma membranes of a variety of cells. We investigated the pharmacological effects of a Na(+)/H(+) exchanger inhibitor, SM-20220 (N-(aminoiminomethyl)-1-methyl-1-H-indole-2-carboxamide methanesulfonate), on ischemic brain damage, edema and neutrophil accumulation at 72 h after middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion in a rat MCA occlusion model. SM-20220 was intravenously administered as a bolus injection immediately after occlusion, followed by a continuous infusion over 2.5 h. At 72 h after occlusion, the infract area was measured using hematoxylin-eosin staining and, using the same slices, neutrophils in the brain were immuno-stained with anti-myeloperoxidase (n=11). In a separate study, rat behavior was scored and scaled, and brains removed for the determination of water content by the dry-weight method. SM-20220 significantly (P<0.05) attenuated cerebral infarct volume, water content, and the neutrophil accumulation at 72 h after the MCA occlusion, and ameliorated neurological deficits. SM-20220, an NHE inhibitor prevented the progress of cerebral ischemic damage and edema following MCA occlusion in rats though a possible mechanism that may be due to the inhibition of neutrophil accumulation. The NHE in neutrophils may enhance the progress of cerebral damage following cerebral ischemia-reperfusion.     

大鼠局灶性脑缺血预处理的抗细胞凋亡作用机制的研究

目的研究大鼠短暂局灶性脑缺血预处理对再次脑缺血神经细胞凋亡的保护作用,及bcl-2、bax与脑缺血耐受的关系.方法用开颅方法阻断大鼠大脑中动脉(MCA)20分钟,3天后再次阻断6小时.观察大鼠脑梗死体积及组织病理学改变,采用TUNEL法观察神经细胞凋亡状况,采用免疫组织化学方法观察bcl-2、bax蛋白表达的改变.结果与假预处理组和缺血组相比,预处理后缺血组梗死灶体积明显减小(均P＜0.01),半影区凋亡细胞数明显减少(P＜0.01),bax蛋白表达下降(P＜0.05),bcl-2蛋白表达显著上升(P＜0.01).结论 20分钟局灶性脑缺血预处理能够通过bcl-2表达增加及bax表达下降对再次脑缺血神经细胞起保护作用.     

Photothrombotic occlusion of rat middle cerebral artery: histopathological and hemodynamic sequelae of acute recanalization

The histopathological and hemodynamic consequences of photochemically induced middle cerebral artery (MCA) thrombosis and recanalization were studied in the rat. Recanalization of the thrombosed MCA segment was achieved by the topical application of nimodipine at 1 h following photochemically induced occlusion. Pathological consequences of permanent and temporary occlusion were compared by morphometric procedures 7 days following thrombus formation. Rats with permanent thrombosis exhibited consistent infarction of both striatum and cortex. MCA recanalization at 1 h was associated with a significant reduction in total infarct volume. In recanalized rats, small cortical infarcts, confined to the peripheral MCA territory, were observed in only three of six rats. In contrast, a mixed pattern of infarction and ischemic cell damage was documented throughout the striatum in all rats. Local CBF (1CBF), measured autoradiographically, was significantly reduced in the MCA territory following 1 h of MCA occlusion, especially within the striatum. At 1 h after recanalization, 1CBF recovered within the previously ischemic brain regions to greater than 50% of control. Perfusion deficits were detected by carbon black infusion within focal areas of the striatum following reperfusion. Thus, cortical neurons appear to tolerate 1 h of MCA occlusion in this model. In contrast, reperfusion following 1 h of photochemically induced MCA occlusion gives rise to selective injury to the striatum.     

Cilostazol reduces ischemic brain damage partly by inducing metallothionein-1 and -2

The neuroprotective effect of cilostazol, an antiplatelet drug, was examined after 24 h permanent middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion in mice, and explored the possible underlying mechanism by examining metallothionein (MT)-1 and -2 induction in vivo. Cilostazol (30 mg/kg) was intraperitoneally administered at 12 h before, 1 h before, and just after MCA occlusion. Mice were euthanized at 24 h after the occlusion, and the neuronal damage was evaluated using 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining. Cilostazol significantly reduced the infarct area and volume, especially in the cortex. Real-time RT-PCR revealed increased mRNA expressions for MT-1 and -2 in the cortex of normal brains at 6 h after cilostazol treatment without MCA occlusion. MT-1 and -2 immunoreactivity was also increased in the cortex of such mice, and this immunoreactivity was observed in the ischemic hemisphere at 24 h after MCA occlusion (without cilostazol treatment). The strongest MT-1 and -2 immunoreactivity was detected in MCA-occlused mice treated with cilostazol [in the peri-infarct zone of the cortex (penumbral zone)]. These findings indicate that cilostazol has neuroprotective effects in vivo against permanent focal cerebral ischemia, especially in the penumbral zone in the cortex, and that MT-1 and -2 may be partly responsible for these neuroprotective effects.     

Neuroprotection by 2-h postischemia administration of two free radical scavengers, alpha-phenyl-n-tert-butyl-nitrone (PBN) and N-tert-butyl-(2-sulfophenyl)-nitrone (S-PBN), in rats subjected to focal embolic cerebral ischemia

Oxygen free radical generation may have important secondary damaging effects after the onset of cerebral ischemia. Free radical scavengers have been used successfully in attenuating neuronal damage in the reperfusion period in transient forebrain ischemia. There are limited data on effectiveness in models of focal ischemia. Two free radical scavengers, alpha-phenyl-n-tert-butyl-nitrone (PBN) and N-tert-butyl-(2-sulfophenyl)-nitrone (S-PBN), have been shown to reduce oxidative-stress-induced neuronal injury. Whereas PBN has been demonstrated to reduce infarct volume in focal ischemia, neuroprotection has not been evaluated with S-PBN. The present study was designed to evaluate the neuroprotective effect of PBN and S-PBN compared to vehicle in a focal embolic middle cerebral artery (MCA) cerebral ischemia model in rats. Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups (n = 10 each group). Animals in the control group received vehicle and those in the treatment groups were treated with PBN or S-PBN (both 100 mg/kg/day x 3 days, intraperitoneally) starting 2 h after the introduction of an autologous thrombus into the right-side MCA. The neurological outcome was observed and compared before and after treatment and between groups. The percentage of cerebral infarct volume was estimated from 2,3, 5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride stained coronal slices 72 h after the ischemic insult. Two-hour postischemia administration of PBN or S-PBN significantly improved neurobehavioral scores at 24 h following MCA embolization (both P < 0.01). The percentage of infarct volume for animals receiving vehicle was 32.8 +/- 9.4%. Two-hour delayed administration of PBN and S-PBN achieved a 35.4% reduction in infarct volume in treatment groups when compared with animals receiving vehicle (PBN vs control, 21.2 +/- 10.9% vs 32.8 +/- 9.4%; P < 0.05; S-PBN vs control, 21.2 +/- 13.1%, (P < 0.05). These data indicate that free radical generation may be involved in brain damage in this model and 2-h delayed postischemia treatment with PBN and S-PBN may have neuroprotective effects in focal cerebral ischemia. As S-PBN does not normally cross the blood-brain barrier, the neuroprotection evident in this study may be explained by entry into the brain via damaged vessels.     

The glutamate antagonist MK-801 reduces focal ischemic brain damage in the rat

Excessive activation of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) subtype of glutamate receptor has been implicated in the sequence of neurochemical events that results in irreversible neuronal damage in cerebral ischemia. The effects of the NMDA antagonist (+)-5-methyl-10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepten-5,10-imine maleate (MK-801) upon the amount of ischemic brain damage has been assessed quantitatively in the lightly anesthetized rat. Focal cerebral ischemia was produced by the permanent occlusion of one middle cerebral artery (MCA), and the animals were killed 3 hours after the arterial occlusion. MK-801 (0.5 mg/kg) was administered intravenously either 30 minutes prior to MCA occlusion or 30 minutes after the induction of ischemia. Pretreatment with MK-801 reduced the volume of ischemic damage both in the cerebral cortex (by 38% compared with untreated rats with MCA occlusion; p less than 0.01) and in the caudate nucleus (by 18% compared with controls; p less than 0.05). Treatment with MK-801, initiated 30 minutes after MCA occlusion, reduced the volume of ischemic damage in the cerebral cortex (by 52% compared with controls; p less than 0.01). The volume of ischemic damage in the caudate nucleus was minimally influenced by MK-801 treatment initiated after MCA occlusion. The antiischemic effects of MK-801 were readily demonstrable despite the hypotension that MK-801 induced in rats anesthetized with halothane (0.5%), nitrous oxide (70%), and oxygen (30%). The potency of MK-801 in reducing ischemic brain damage, even when administered after the induction of ischemia, highlights the potential use of NMDA receptor antagonists for the treatment of focal cerebral ischemia in humans.     

神经节苷脂对大鼠脑缺血再灌注损伤的脑保护作用

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

The significance of hypothermic acid-base management induced before ischemia in a rat model of transient middle cerebral artery occlusion

We investigated the effects of acid-base management during pre- and intra-ischemic hypothermia on regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) and infarct volume using a transient focal cerebral ischemia model. Normal temperature was maintained in a group of 7 anesthetized rats, and hypothermia (30 degrees C) was maintained in two other groups of 7 anesthetized rats, in which alpha-stat (PaCO2 measured at 37 degrees C was maintained at 36 mmHg) and pH-stat (PaCO2 corrected for body temperature was maintained at 36 mmHg) conditions, respectively, were established. rCBF was monitored by laser-Doppler flowmetry in the ischemic penumbra. The middle cerebral artery (MCA) was occluded for 2 h and then reperfused. Infarct volume was measured after 24 h and expressed as a percentage of hemisphere volume. Pre-ischemic hypothermia reduced rCBF in the alpha-stat group and the pH-stat group to 52 +/- 2% and 86 +/- 7%, respectively (p < 0.01). After MCA occlusion, rCBF dropped in the control group, alpha-stat group, and pH-stat group to 57 +/- 11%, 31 +/- 9%, 27 +/- 10%, respectively. Infarct volume in the alpha-stat group, and pH-stat group was significantly smaller (10 +/- 1% and 7 +/- 2%) than in the control group (42 +/- 7%, p < 0.01), but no differences were found between the hypothermic groups. Differences in acid-base management in the present study did not affect infarct volume, but pre-ischemic rCBF in the alpha-stat group was significantly lower than in the pH-stat group. The steeper fall in rCBF after MCA occlusion in the pH-stat group suggested that the autoregulatory response of the collateral pathways may have been reduced in this group.     

Postischemic intracarotid treatment with TNK-tPA reduces infarct volume and improves neurological deficits in embolic stroke in the unanesthetized rat

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: To simulate human stroke, we developed a model of focal cerebral embolic ischemia in the unanesthetized rat. Using this model, we tested the hypothesis that intra-arterial administration of TNK-tPA, a fibrin specific second generation thrombolytic agent, is effective in reducing ischemic volume without increasing intra-cerebral hemorrhage. METHODS: Under anesthesia, a catheter was inserted to the origin of the MCA of male Wistar rats. Forty-five minutes after recovery from anesthesia, the MCA was occluded in the awake rat by a single fibrin rich clot placed via the catheter. TNK-tPA (1.5 mg/kg) was administered intraarterially via the catheter at either 2 h or 4 h after stroke. All rats were sacrificed at 48 h after ischemia. Neurological deficits, gross hemorrhage and ischemic lesion volume were measured. RESULTS: A clot was detected at the origin of the MCA 4 h after MCA occlusion in the awake rats (n=4). Rats (n=12) subjected to MCA occlusion showed immediate neurological deficits which persisted for 48 h of ischemia. Ischemic rats had a lesion volume of 38.2+/-3.8% and 25% of rats exhibited gross hemorrhage. Ischemic rats (n=10) treated with TNK-tPA at 2 h showed a significant (P<0.05) reduction of neurological deficits, body weight loss and infarct volume (22.8+/-2.1%) without an increase in gross hemorrhage (10%) compared with the non treated ischemic rats (25%). Although treatment with TNK-tPA of ischemic rats (n=12) at 4 h did not significantly (P=0.06) reduce infarct volume (28.6+/-3.0%), it also did not increase gross hemorrhage (25%) compared with the control group (25%). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that intraarterial administration of TNK-tPA at 2 h of ischemia in the unanesthesthetized rat is effective in reducing neurological deficits and ischemic lesion volume without increasing hemorrhagic transformation and that administration of TNK-tPA at 4 h of ischemia does not increase the incidence of hemorrhagic transformation.     

肢体缺血预处理对脑缺血再灌注损伤大鼠自噬的影响

目的探讨肢体缺血预处理对脑缺血再灌注损伤大鼠自噬的影响。方法将60只Wistar大鼠随机分为假手术组(Sham组)、缺血再灌注组(I/R组)、肢体缺血预处理组(LIPC组)、3-甲基嘌呤组(3-MA组),每组15只。制作脑缺血再灌注、肢体缺血预处理及3-MA干预大鼠模型,在脑缺血2 h再灌注24 h后进行神经功能缺陷评分和脑梗死体积测定,HE染色观察细胞形态学改变,Western Bloting法检测自噬相关蛋白Beclin-1、Cathepsin B的表达。结果与I/R组比较,LIPC组神经功能缺陷评分降低(P<0.05),脑梗体积明显减小(P<0.05),细胞损伤、坏死减轻(P<0.05),Beclin-1、Cathepsin B的蛋白表达明显减弱(P<0.05)。结论 LIPC对缺血再灌注损伤大脑具有保护作用,其机制可能与减弱自噬水平有关。     

Ischemic preconditioning reduces infarct volume after subdural hematoma in the rat

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of ischemic preconditioning on infarct volume in a rat model of subdural hematoma (SDH). Ischemic preconditioning was induced by 15 min transient middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion followed 3 days later by the injection of 300 μl of autologous venous blood into the subdural space. Preconditioning significantly reduced the volume of cortical infarction (by 26%, P<0.001) 24 h after SDH induction, but not brain swelling (P>0.05) relative to sham-operated non-preconditioned animals. These data support the view that ischemic preconditioning reduces ischemic brain damage in this rat model of SDH.     

在改良法血栓栓塞性脑卒中大鼠模型上进行尿激酶静脉溶栓治疗

目的　在改良法自体血血栓栓塞性脑卒中大鼠模型上使用尿激酶静脉溶栓 ,试图建立理想化的溶栓治疗脑卒中研究的模型体系。方法　治疗组于大脑中动脉闭塞后 0 .5h尿激酶进行静脉溶栓。 5h和2 4h后进行神经功能缺损评分 ,用TTC染色法测定梗死灶体积 ,并观察梗死后 6h的脑组织病理变化。结果　此模型可产生范围较恒定的梗死灶 ,治疗组梗死灶体积明显小于对照组 (P <0 .0 1)。但两组 5h和 2 4h神经功能缺损评分无显著性差异。结论　这种模型超早期使用尿激酶静脉溶栓疗效好 ,由于可能存在缺血性神经元顿抑 ,尽管溶栓组脑梗死体积减小 ,但早期神经功能恢复不明显。     

ERK1/2信号通路对缺血后适应大鼠皮层的作用

目的研究脑缺血大鼠缺血后适应模型中大脑皮质的ERK1/2通路表达特点及应用ERK1/2特异性抑制剂PD98059后对缺血后适应神经保护作用的影响,研究缺血后适应是否通过ERK1/2信号通路介导对急性缺血性脑梗死再灌注后的神经保护作用。方法将20只SD大鼠随机分为假手术组、缺血2h再灌注组、缺血2h后适应组以及PD98059+缺血2h后适应组(PD+2h后适应组),每组5只,用线栓法建立急性大脑中动脉闭塞的缺血性脑梗死模型,4组分别进行不同形式的实验。对比4组大鼠再灌注1h、24h的神经功能评分及再灌注24h后的梗死体积。每组另增加15只大鼠,分别于再灌注后2h、6h、24h留取缺血大脑皮质;Western blot检测再灌注2h、6h、24h后总T-ERK1/2、P-ERK1/2表达。结果 PD+2h后适应组与缺血2h再灌注组神经功能缺损评分高于缺血2h后适应组,脑梗死体积大于缺血2h后适应组。缺血后适应组再灌注2h、6h、24h后P-ERK1/2表达明显高于缺血2h再灌注组及PD+2h后适应组;以上表明,缺血后适应通过ERK1/2信号通路减轻大鼠缺血性脑损伤,应用P-ERK1/2的阻滞剂PD98059后,阻断了缺血后适应的脑保护作用。结论通过对本实验研究数据的分析后发现,缺血后适应对大鼠急性缺血性脑梗死具有神经保护作用,应用ERK1/2特异性抑制剂PD98059后,缺血后适应神经保护效应减弱,说明缺血后适应对急性缺血性脑梗死再灌注损伤的保护作用与MAPK/ERK信号通路具有深层次紧密关系。     

High-dose methylprednisolone treatment in experimental focal cerebral ischemia

Previous studies using steroids for experimental focal stroke have demonstrated conflicting results, possibly related to dose used or ischemic models employed. In this study we examined high-dose methylprednisolone treatment following permanent and temporary focal cerebral ischemia in the rat. Focal stroke was induced in spontaneously hypertensive rats by permanent right common carotid and either permanent or 3 h of temporary middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion. Methylprednisolone (105 mg/kg) was administered intra-arterially. Infarct volume was measured at 24 h after permanent and temporary MCA occlusion. Cerebral edema was determined by measuring right and left hemispheric volumes and water content 24 h after permanent MCA occlusion in one experiment. Methylprednisolone, whether administered in divided doses over 12 h (n = 15 in each group) or a single bolus (n = 9 per group), had no effect on infarct volume after permanent MCA occlusion. Methylprednisolone treatment also had no influence on cerebral edema (n = 9 per group). In two different experiments, methylprednisolone given in divided doses over 12 h (n = 11, n = 25) after temporary MCA occlusion decreased infarct volume (P < 0.05) by 20% compared with saline controls (n = 10, n = 25). High dose methylprednisolone decreased infarct volume following temporary, but not permanent, focal ischemia. The benefit suggests that high dose methylprednisolone may prove useful clinically if reperfusion can be established with thrombolytic agents. Furthermore, the differential treatment effect in the setting of comparable ischemic insults implies that different modifiable biochemical processes may be present during temporary but not permanent focal ischemia, thus providing indirect evidence for reperfusion injury.     

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

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

大脑中动脉梗死模型制作方法的研究

目的:通过大鼠短暂性大脑中动脉阻塞后梗死体积的测量和神经功能评分,评价改良大鼠大脑中动脉阻塞模型的可靠性。方法:分别使用包被有多聚-L-赖氨酸(0·1%)尼龙线和普通尼龙线,线栓法制作大鼠大脑中动脉阻塞模型,缺血2h后再灌注,分别在再灌注后3、24、48和72h联合应用八分法和姿势反射评价运动神经功能,3d后处死大鼠,测定梗死体积并进行比较。结果:运动神经功能评分结果与梗死体积成线性关系,多聚-L-赖氨酸包被线组制作模型的成功率高于普通线组,且梗死体积比普通线组大。结论:神经功能评分能很好的反映脑梗死的严重程度;采用多聚-L-赖氨酸包被的尼龙线能使大鼠大脑中动脉阻塞模型更可靠,成功率高,梗死体积和部位变异性小。     

Neuroprotective effects of the free radical scavenger Edaravone (MCI-186) in mice permanent focal brain ischemia

The present study was aimed to evaluate the effect of the free radical scavenger Edaravone on infarct volume due to permanent MCA occlusion in mice and, if so, to elucidate the mechanism of its neuroprotective effects. Male Balb/c mice were subjected to permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion and were treated with 3.0 mg/kg of Edaravone or vehicle 30 min before ischemia. Infarct volume was assessed by 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) method after 24 h. Furthermore, in situ detection of superoxide in the ipsilateral neocortex was carried out using the superoxide-sensitive dye dihydroethidium (DHE) staining technique. Pretreatment with 3.0 mg/kg of Edaravone ameliorated the tissue damage in the infarct rim and significantly reduced infarct volume to about 77% of the control (p<0.05). Semi-quantitative measurement of red fluorescence emitted from DHE revealed that the superoxide increased in the ischemic core at 1 h after the onset of ischemia and extended towards the infarct rim at 3 and 6 h, and that pretreatment with 3.0 mg/kg of Edaravone significantly inhibited the increase of superoxide in the infarct rim at 3 and 6 h (p<0.01). Double staining with DHE and monoclonal antibody against NeuN showed that the majority of the nuclei positive for DHE were also positive for NeuN. These findings suggest that Edaravone salvages the boundary zone of infarct by scavenging reactive oxygen species especially in the neurons during permanent focal cerebral ischemia.