Abstract
Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) often results in degeneration of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), which can lead to vasogenic edema and an increased risk of intracerebral hemorrhage. Imatinib is an agent that may be able to protect the BBB and reduce the risk of the harmful consequences of BBB degeneration. We sought to measure the effect of Imatinib on the BBB after experimental stroke longitudinally in vivo with permeability dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI. Ischemia/reperfusion injury was induced with a transient middle cerebral artery occlusion surgery. Rats were given Imatinib at 2 and 20h after stroke onset. Post-assessment included neurologic functioning, MR imaging, Evans Blue extravasation, Western blot, and immunohistology assay. Imatinib protected the BBB by 24h but failed to decrease BBB permeability at an earlier time-point. Imatinib also reduced infarct volume, edema, and improved neurologic functioning by 24h. Rats treated with Imatinib also had a higher expression of the BBB structural protein Zona ocludens-1 and a reduction in nuclear factor-kappa beta (NF-κβ) activation. Imatinib is a promising agent to protect the BBB after AIS, but its effect on the BBB may not become prominent until 24h after the onset of ischemia. This finding may help elucidate Imatinib's role in the clinical management of AIS and influence future study designs.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
