title: Therapeutic time window for the neuroprotective effects of NGF when administered after focal cerebral ischemia.
abstract: In the present study, we evaluated the neuroprotection time window for nerve growth factor (NGF) after ischemia/reperfusion brain injury in rabbits as related to this anti-apoptosis mechanism. Male New Zealand rabbits were subjected to 2 h of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO), followed by 70 h of reperfusion. NGF was administered after injury to evaluate the time window. Neurological deficits, infarct volume, neural cell apoptosis and expressions of caspase-3 and Bcl-2 were measured. Compared to saline-treated control, NGF treatment at 2, 3 and 5 h after MCAO significantly reduced infarct volume, neural cell apoptosis and expression of caspase-3 (P < 0.01), up-regulated the expression of Bcl-2 and improved functional recovery (P < 0.01). However, treatment at latter time points did not produce significant neuroprotection. Neuroprotection treatment with NGF provides an extended time window of up to 5 h after ischemia/reperfusion brain injury, in part by attenuating the apoptosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Imaging, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, 215 West Heping Road, Shijiazhuang, 050000 Hebei Province, China.
authors.forename: Ji-Ping
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Huai-Jun
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Ping-Yong
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Feng
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D007276:Injections, Intraventricular; D008297:Male; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000502:physiology; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D011817:Rabbits; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor