Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Edaravone (MCI-186) is a novel free radical scavenger. Many studies have confirmed that MCI-186 can inhabit brain edema in acute cerebral infarction and produce neuroprotective effects.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of free radical scavenger MCI-186 on endogenous neural stem cells around ischemic brain regions after cerebral infarction.
METHODS: The middle cerebral artery ischemia and reperfusion model of SD rats was established with Longa method and divided into two groups. They were administered with MCI-186 or phosphate buffered solution (PBS) immediately after artery occlusion. The contents of malondialdehyde and brain derived neurotrophic factor expressions around ischemic brain regions were monitored at 1, 3 and 7 days chronologically. Immunohistochemistry was used to monitor the expression of Nestin and Caspase-3 positive cells around the ischemic area. Neurological function was evaluated at the same time.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Compared with sham-surgery group, the malondialdehyde content in PBS group was increased, but reduced in the MCI-186 group (P < 0.01). The levels of brain derived neurotrophic factor protein and mRNA were both significantly increased in the PBS group at day 1 after ischemia (P < 0.01). MCI-186 enhanced the secretions and prolonged high level to day 3 compared with sham group and PBS group (P < 0.01). At days 3 and 7, the number of Nestin-positive cells in ischemic brain in MCI-186 group was notably higher than that in PBS group (P < 0.05), while Caspase-3 positive cells decreased (P < 0.05). The neurological function was obviously improved in MCI-186 group than that in PBS group at day 7. MCI-186 can inhibit lipid peroxidation, increase the secretion of brain derived neurotrophic factor in ischemic brain, protect neural stem cells from apoptosis, and confer neuroprotective effects.