title: Wide therapeutic time window for fasudil neuroprotection against ischemia-induced delayed neuronal death in gerbils.
abstract: The neuroprotective potential and therapeutic time window for fasudil, a Rho-kinase inhibitor (RKI), were evaluated for delayed neuronal death in gerbils. A preliminary screening was done on fasudil, ozagrel, and edaravone using a single administration in a delayed neuronal death study. Intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of edaravone, a free radical scavenger (3, 10 mg/kg) immediately after re-circulation did not reduce neuronal degeneration. We previously reported that ozagrel, a thromboxane A(2) synthetase inhibitor (30 mg/kg) also did not reduce neuronal degeneration, while fasudil (3, 30 mg/kg) significantly protected against the ischemia-induced neuronal loss. To clarify the therapeutic time window of fasudil, which showed a positive effect in a preliminary screening, animals received their first i.p. administration of fasudil (10 mg/kg) 24 or 48 h after ischemia. Administration of fasudil twice daily was continued until day 6. Fasudil significantly protected against the ischemia-induced delayed neuronal death when the treatment was started 24 h after ischemia. In gerbils, hydroxyfasudil, an active metabolite of fasudil, was found following an i.p. administration of fasudil (10 mg/kg), and the value of the area under the plasma level curve of hydroxyfasudil was 7 times higher than that of fasudil. Hydroxyfasudil may contribute to the potency of fasudil. The present findings indicate that the RKI fasudil reduces ischemic neuronal damage with a wide therapeutic time window in gerbil, and may be useful in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke in humans.
authors.affiliation: Research Center, Asahi Kasei Pharma Corporation 632-1, Mifuku, Izunokuni-shi, Shizuoka 410-2321, Japan. sato.sn@om.asahi-kasei.co.jp
authors.forename: Shin-ichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Satoh
authors.forename: Yoshinori
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Toshima
authors.forename: Ichiro
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ikegaki
authors.forename: Masakazu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iwasaki
authors.forename: Toshio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Asano
mesh_terms: D019307:1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D000983:Antipyrine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D000077553:Edaravone; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005849:Gerbillinae; D007511:Ischemia / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D019307:1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine; C049347:fasudil; D000077553:Edaravone; D000983:Antipyrine