title: Broad therapeutic treatment window of [Nle(4), D-Phe(7)]alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone for long-lasting protection against ischemic stroke, in Mongolian gerbils.
abstract: Melanocortin peptides have been shown to produce neuroprotection in experimental ischemic stroke. The aim of the present investigation was to identify the therapeutic treatment window of melanocortins, and to determine whether these neuropeptides chronically protect against damage consequent to brain ischemia. A 10-min period of global cerebral ischemia in gerbils, induced by occluding both common carotid arteries, caused impairment in spatial learning and memory (Morris test: four sessions from 4 to 67 days after the ischemic episode), associated with neuronal death in the hippocampus. Treatment with a nanomolar dose (340 microg/kg i.p., every 12 h for 11 days) of the melanocortin analog [Nle(4), D-Phe(7)]alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (NDP-alpha-MSH), starting 3-18 h after the ischemic episode, reduced hippocampal damage with improvement in subsequent functional recovery. The protective effect was long-lasting (67 days, at least) with all schedules of NDP-alpha-MSH treatment; however, in the latest treated (18 h) gerbils, some spatial memory deficits were detected. Pharmacological blockade of melanocortin MC(4) receptors prevented the protective effects of NDP-alpha-MSH. Our findings indicate that, in conditions of brain ischemia, melanocortins can provide strong and long-lasting protection with a broad therapeutic treatment window, and with involvement of melanocortin MC(4) receptors, 18 h being the approximately time-limit for stroke late treatment to be effective.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Giuliani
authors.forename: Sheila
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Leone
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mioni
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bazzani
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zaffe
authors.forename: Annibale R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Botticelli
authors.forename: Domenica
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Altavilla
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Galantucci
authors.forename: Letteria
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Minutoli
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bitto
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Squadrito
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Guarini
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005849:Gerbillinae; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000032:analysis; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic / Q000494:pharmacology; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000032:analysis; D044105:Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 4 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors; D000521:alpha-MSH / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; C116098:HS 024; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D044105:Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 4; D000521:alpha-MSH; C027756:MSH, 4-Nle-7-Phe-alpha-