Neuroprotective Effect of Remote Ischemic Preconditioning in Combination With Atorvastatin on Ca1 Hippocampus After Ischemia in Male Rats



Bashghareh A¹ ; Abolhassani F¹ ; Famitafreshi H² ; Karimian M² ; Bashghareh H³ ; Mahdavian S¹ ; Shiasi M¹ ; Nazparvar B⁴ ; Yaghobinezhad M¹ ; Hedayatpour A¹ Show Affiliations
Source: Current Topics in Pharmacology Published:2017

Abstract

Stroke is one of the leading causes of different types of mortality and morbidity, and hence reducing the adverse effect of stroke is of great importance for helping post- stroke patients. In this study, it is proposed that remote ischemic preconditioning (RIP) induced by transient ischemia-reperfusion left of the femoral artery along with atorvastatin (ATO) has a neuroprotective effect on hippocampal CA1 neurons subsequent to global cerebral ischemia (GCI). In this study we used 56 rats divided into 8 groups, (n = 7). Group 1: control; group 2: sham; group 3: GCI (global cerebral ischemia) only; group 4: RIP (remote ischemic preconditioning) + GCI; group 5: GCI + ATO; group 6: GCI + vehicle; group 7: RIP + GCI + ATO and group 8: RIP + GCI + vehicle. Global cerebral ischemia was induced by occluding the common carotid arteries for 20 minutes. Remote ischemic preconditioning was created by transient ischemia-reperfusion of the left femoral artery. CA1 hippocampal neurons were counted using Nissl staining and TUNEL (terminal deoxy nucleotidyl transferase-mediated 2'Deoxyuridine 5'-Triphosphate-biotin nick end labeling) assay was used for investigating the apoptotic CA1 hippocampal neurons. Brain ischemia causes several physical and mental problems such as paralysis or weakness on one or both sides of the body and memory loss. After ischemia, neurons in CA1 hippocampus die. In this study we used remote ischemic preconditioning as a neuroprotective mechanism in combination with atorvastatin for decreasing neuronal death. At first each treatment was administered separately. Both treatments decreased neuronal death and injury. The best result was obtained when we combined the two treatments. When remote ischemic preconditioning was used with atorvastatin neuronal death significantly decreased. CA1 hippocampal neuron injury after cerebral ischemia could decrease by remote ischemic preconditioning or atorvastatin alone. However when we combined these treatments injury in CA1 hippocampal neurons significantly decreased compared with when using these treatments alone. © 2017 Slovansky Ustav AV CR. All rights reserved.