Postischemic administration of HMG CoA reductase inhibitor inhibits infarct expansion after transient middle cerebral artery occlusion.
Infarcts expand over a period of several days after focal cerebral ischemia. Inhibition of infarct expansion would be a promising strategy for the protection of the brain after ischemic insult. In this study, we examined the effect of statin treatment initiated 2 days after transient occlusion of the middle cerebral artery for 80 min. Treatment with continuous infusion of pravastatin with an osmotic minipump for 6 days resulted in a significantly smaller infarct volume and better recovery of motor function at 8 days after ischemia compared to vehicle treatment. These results suggest that statin treatment during the postischemic period may be effective in stroke patients.
Sugiura
Shiro
S
Osaka Neurological Institute, Toyonaka, Japan.
Yagita
Yoshiki
Y
Sasaki
Tsutomu
T
Todo
Kenichi
K
Terasaki
Yasukazu
Y
Ohyama
Naoki
N
Hori
Masatsugu
M
Kitagawa
Kazuo
K
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000201:enzymology / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D006903:Hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA Reductases / Q000187:drug effects; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D020244:Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery / Q000150:complications / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D017035:Pravastatin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D006903:Hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA Reductases; D017035:Pravastatin