Preischemic neuroprotective effect of minocycline and sodium ozagrel on transient cerebral ischemic rat model

We investigated the neuroprotective properties of single doses of minocycline and ozagrel when administered prior to stroke. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned randomly to one of the following groups: (1) control (Con) group (n=10), (2) minocycline (Mino) group (n=10), (3) sodium ozagrel (SO) group (n=10). Rats were treated with a single dose of minocycline or ozagrel at 30 min before stroke. A middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) was made at 30 min after drug administration and reperfusion was done. The rats were subjected to a neurobehavioral test at days 1, 3 and 7 after MCAO. The cerebral ischemic volume was quantified by MetaMorph imaging software after TTC staining. The neuronal cell survival and astrocytes expansion were assessed by the NeuN and GFAP immunohistofluorescence staining. Apoptosis was detected by the TUNEL assay. We statistically analyzed and compared the results with each other. Mino and SO groups had neuroprotective effect and showed a better behavioral performance of adhesive removal and treadmill test at 7 days after stroke. Mino and SO groups also showed a smaller infarct volume than control group at 7 days after stroke. Immunohistofluorescence staining showed a higher number of NeuN positive cells, lower activated astrocytes in GFAP and a lower apoptosis in TUNEL staining. This study showed that single doses of minocycline and ozagrel prior to stroke had neuroprotective effects. These agents will be useful not only in post-stroke therapy but also in stroke prevention in several cerebrovascular procedures like carotid endarterectomy, bypass procedure, endovascular angioplasty, thromboembolectomy or thrombolysis.