title: Effect of remote ischemic postconditioning on an intracerebral hemorrhage stroke model in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  While recent studies suggest that remote ischemic postconditioning (RIP) therapy may be of benefit to patients with acute ischemic stroke, RIP's effects on intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) still remains unclear. In the present study,  the use of RIP in a rat model ICH was investigated to elucidate any potential beneficial or detrimental effects as determined by motor testing, blood brain barrier integrity, and brain water content, as well as aquaporin-4 (AQP-4) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) expression.
  
  
  METHODS
  ICH was induced in Sprague-Dawley rats and they were randomized into either a control (n = 24) or RIP treatment (n = 24) group. RIP was performed by repetitive, brief occlusion and release of the bilateral femoral arteries. Functional outcome in each  group was assessed by neurologic deficits on vibrissae-elicited forelimb placing test and a 12-point outcome scale. At 72 hours, brain blood volume, water content, blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability, and protein expression of AQP-4 and MMP-9 were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This  collagenase model yielded well-defined striatal hematomas. Vibrissae-elicited forelimb placement was significantly (P<0·01) affected by ICH. However, there was no significant difference between the RIP and control groups at either 24 or 72 hours. A 12-point neurological deficit  score also failed to differentiate between the RIP and control. There were no significant differences between the two groups in cerebral blood volumes, brain water content, Evans blue extravasations, and expressions of AQP-4 and MMP-9.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although RIP did not show a beneficial  effect in our ICH model, treatment with RIP did not exacerbate ICH.
authors.affiliation: Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Xiaokun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Geng
authors.forename: Changhong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: Tony
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Yuming
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Xiangrong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ling
authors.forename: Jianping
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.forename: Huishan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Du
authors.forename: Xunming
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.forename: Yuchuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ding
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D051401:Aquaporin 4 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier / Q000378:metabolism; D002199:Capillary Permeability / Q000502:physiology; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D019194:Ischemic Preconditioning / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020521:Stroke / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D051401:Aquaporin 4; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9