Probucol reduces the cerebral edema area and infarction volume in rat cerebral infarction model via PI3K/Akt pathway

Abstract

Purpose: To study the effects of probucol on rats with cerebral infarction through the phosphatidylinositol 3-hydroxy kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) pathway.Methods: Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were divided into sham group (SO group, n = 7), model group (MO group, n = 7) and probucol group (PR group, n = 7). Infarction volume, messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA), protein expressions of PI3K/Akt, neurological score, brain water content, degree of brain tissue lesions and neurological function score were determined.Results: Neurological score was 0, 2.54 ± 0.67 and 1.34 ± 0.21 points, in SO, O and PR groups, respectively. In turning angle test, neurological function score gradually rose at 24 h after cerebral infarction in PR and MO groups, compared with that in the SO group (p < 0.05), but significantly declined at 48 h in PR group compared with that in MO group (p < 0.05). Brain water content was lowest in the SO group but highest in MO group; it was significantly lower in PR group than that in MO group (p < 0.05). The mRNA and protein expressions of PI3K/Akt were highest in SO group and lowest in MO group; the expressions were higher in PR group than those in the MO group (p < 0.05).Conclusion: Probucol reduces the cerebral edema area and infarction volume by activating PI3K/Akt pathway, thereby exerting a significant therapeutic effect on rat model with cerebral infarction. Thus, this agent has the potential for use in the management of cerebral infarction.