Relaxin pretreatment decreases infarct size in male rats after middle cerebral artery occlusion.
We studied the possible neuroprotective action of relaxin in a rat stroke model. Relaxin (10 ng in 200 nL saline) or saline was injected into the secondary somatosensory cortex of anesthetized rats. Thirty minutes after treatment, the right middle cerebral artery was occluded, causing ischemic conditions. Brains were removed 4 hours after stroke, and 1-mm coronal sections were stained using 2-3-5-triphenoltetrazolium chloride. Digital photographs were taken of the sections, and the ratio of infarct area to ipsilateral hemispheric area was calculated. Relaxin treatment significantly (P < .05) reduced this ratio compared with that of saline-treated controls. Results suggest that relaxin may prevent ischemia-induced cell death.
Wilson
Brian C
BC
Department of Biology, Acadia University, Wolfville, Nova Scotia B4P 2R6, Canada. brian.wilson@acadiau.ca
Milne
Peter
P
Saleh
Tarek M
TM
D000818:Animals; D020520:Brain Infarction / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D020244:Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012065:Relaxin / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D011498:Protein Precursors; C034820:preprorelaxin; D012065:Relaxin