title: Neuroprotective effect of WIN 55,212-2 pretreatment against focal cerebral ischemia through activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases in rats.
abstract: It is well documented that cannabinoid receptor agonist WIN 55,212-2 had protective effect against cerebral ischemic injury. Our previous study indicated that WIN 55,212-2 pretreatment induced ischemic tolerance to focal cerebral ischemia in a dose-dependent manner. The aim of the present study was to investigate the time-effect relationship of the WIN 55,212-2 pretreatment and explore the role of phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2. Rats were pretreated with 1mg/kg WIN 55,212-2 once a day for 1, 3 and 5 days. Twenty four hours after the end of pretreatment, focal cerebral ischemia was induced by the middle cerebral artery occlusion. Brain ischemic injury was evaluated by neurological function scores and infarction volumes. The effect of U0126, a potent and specific inhibitor of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase, on WIN 55,212-2 pretreatment was also studied. Moreover, the expression of phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 in the penumbra of ischemic side 4h after reperfusion was investigated by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. The results showed that WIN 55,212-2 pretreatment can protect the rat brain against transient focal cerebral ischemia injury, and its protective effect was enhanced gradually with increasing numbers of pretreatment, and was partially reversed by U0126. We further found that WIN 55,212-2 pretreatment up-regulated the levels of phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2. These findings suggest that the neuroprotective effect of WIN 55,212-2 pretreatment against focal cerebral ischemia is through the activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases in rats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, Shaanxi Province, China. hubo8@yahoo.cn
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ye
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Du
authors.forename: Xiaoling
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Lize
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xiong
authors.forename: Shaoyang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D048588:Benzoxazines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D002070:Butadienes / Q000494:pharmacology; D063386:Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D020244:Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery / Q000150:complications; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D009025:Morpholines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009281:Naphthalenes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009570:Nitriles / Q000494:pharmacology; D010766:Phosphorylation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013997:Time Factors; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D048588:Benzoxazines; D002070:Butadienes; D063386:Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists; D009025:Morpholines; D009281:Naphthalenes; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D009570:Nitriles; C113580:U 0126; C070417:(3R)-((2,3-dihydro-5-methyl-3-((4-morpholinyl)methyl)pyrrolo-(1,2,3-de)-1,4-benzoxazin-6-yl)(1-naphthalenyl))methanone; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases