Upregulation of neuronal nitric oxide synthase, edema and cell injury following heat stress are reduced by pretreatment with EGB-761 in the rat

Abstract

Rats exposed to 4 h heat stress (HS) at 38°C exhibited marked upregulation of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) in the brain regions exhibiting blood–brain barrier (BBB) breakdown, brain edema and cell damage. Pretreatment with an anti-oxidant compound EGB-761 (an extract of Gingko biloba) administered 50 mg/kg, per os for 5 days, significantly attenuated nNOS expression, BBB disruption, brain edema and cell injury. These results suggest that EGB-761 is neuroprotective in heat stress and this effect of the compound is related with the inhibition of NOS expression, not reported earlier.