[Protective effect of leptin against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury in mice].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the protective effect of leptin against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury in mice.


METHODS
Mouse models of transient focal cerebral ischemia were established by occlusion of the right middle cerebral artery for 2 h followed by 24 h reperfusion. The infarct volume and neurological deficit scores following leptin treatment were determined using TTC staining and the Longa's score, respectively, to evaluate the protective effect of leptin against ischemic cerebral injury. The levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) in the brain tissue were measured by colorimetry. The histopathological changes in the brain were observed with HE staining, and the expression of glial fibrillary acidicprotein (GFAP) was detected by immunohistochemistry.


RESULTS
Leptin treatment markedly reduced cerebral infarct volume and neurological deficits induced by transient ischemia. The LDH, MDA and NO levels in the brain tissues were significantly decreased after leptin treatment, which also alleviated the histopathological injury, maintained the normal morphology of the astrocytes and increased the expression of GFAP.


CONCLUSIONS
Leptin produces obvious protective effect against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury by inhibiting lipid peroxidation, stabilizing the internal environment and adjusting the activity of the astrocytes.
Si
Yi-ling
YL
Research Laboratory of Biochemistry, Basic Medical Institute, General Hospital of PLA, Beijing 100853, China.
Zhang
Jin-ying
JY
Yan
Guang-tao
GT
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D002545:Brain Ischemia; D020244:Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D020738:Leptin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013997:Time Factors
D020738:Leptin; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase