title: Resveratrol protects neurons and the myocardium by reducing oxidative stress and ameliorating mitochondria damage in a cerebral ischemia rat model.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Resveratrol has shown potent antioxidant activity in ischemia models. The present study was performed to determine whether resveratrol protects against cerebral ischemia-induced neuronal and myocardial injury by interfering with mitochondrial homeostasis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Wistar rats were pretreated with resveratrol or vehicle intraperitoneally for one week and then subjected to cerebral ischemia via middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) for 24 h. Oxidation was evaluated by quantitating SOD activity and MDA levels. Apoptosis and autophagy were measured based on TUNEL staining and the expression levels of Bcl-2, Bax and LC3II. Mitochondrial changes were evaluated by transmission electron microscopy and by analyzing the mitochondrial membrane potential.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Resveratrol significantly decreased mortality, neurological deficits, infarction volume and MDA levels and increased SOD activity. Furthermore, neurocyte apoptosis was alleviated by resveratrol as indicated by the increased Bcl-2/Bax ratio, increased LC3II expression and a decreased number of TUNEL-positive neurocytes. Resveratrol preserved the mitochondria in neurons and cardiomyocytes and significantly improved cardiac function.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Resveratrol protected brain tissues against ischemic damage by interfering with mitochondrial homeostasis and inhibiting apoptosis. Furthermore, resveratrol attenuated myocardial damage, suggesting that it may be a novel therapy for cerebral ischemia diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ran
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yan-yan
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Xiao-yu
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Shu-wei
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / Q000187:drug effects; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects*; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D000077185:Resveratrol; D013267:Stilbenes / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D013267:Stilbenes; D000077185:Resveratrol