High-dose aspirin is neuroprotective in a rat focal ischemia model.
Acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) is neuroprotective through various pharmacological action sites. We used a temporary middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) model in 56 Wistar rats to assess whether repeated ASA injections at 30 min, 6 h, 1, 2, 3, and 4 days after stroke onset are neuroprotective. Animals were sacrificed 5 days after MCAO; infarct size was analyzed with 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining. As compared to saline (164+/-13 mm(3), n=14), only repeated injections of 40 mg/kg ASA (79+/-18 mm(3), n=14, P=0.0029), but not of 20 mg/kg ASA (129+/-19 mm(3), n=15), reduced infarct volume significantly. No significant change was noted with 40 mg/kg ASA injected only once at 30 min after MCAO (117+/-16 mm(3), n=13).
Berger
Christian
C
Department of Neurology, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 400, Heidelberg, 69120, Germany.
Xia
Feng
F
Schabitz
Wolf-Ruediger
WR
Schwab
Stefan
S
Grau
Armin
A
D000818:Animals; D001241:Aspirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D008297:Male; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D020127:Recovery of Function; D013997:Time Factors
D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D001241:Aspirin