title: Neuroprotective effects of ultra-low-molecular-weight heparin in vitro and vivo models of ischemic injury.
abstract: This study was conducted to demonstrate ultra-low-molecular-weight heparin's neuroprotective effects on ischemic injury both in vivo and in vitro studies. In vitro, the effect of ultra-low-molecular-weight heparin was tested in cultured PC12 cells exposed to Earle's solution containing sodium dithionite, to identify its neuroprotection to PC12 cells damaged by oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD). The cell injury was detected by the tetrazolium salt 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5 diphenyl-2H tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. In vivo, male Wistar rats with middle cerebral artery occlusion were evaluated for infarct volume followed by the treatment with ultra-low-molecular-weight heparin. The results in vitro showed that ultra-low-molecular-weight heparin significantly inhibited PC12 cells damage induced by OGD. Results in vivo showed that vein injection of Ultra-Low-molecular-weight heparin at doses of 0.5 and 1.0 mg/kg exerted significant neuroprotective effects on rats with focal cerebral ischemic injury by significantly reducing the infarct volume compared with the injury group. All the findings suggest that ultra-low-molecular-weight heparin might act as a neuroprotective agent useful in the treatment of cerebral ischemia.
authors.affiliation: Department of pharmacy, the 88th Hospital of PLA, Tai'an, Shandong 271000, P. R. China. tazzg@163.com
authors.forename: Zhi-guo
authors.initials: ZG
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Tai-sheng
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Lü
authors.forename: Hong-ying
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Yuan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020244:Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016716:PC12 Cells; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents