Neuroprotection by sildenafil: neuronal networks potentiation in acute experimental stroke.

ABSTRACT:

Aims

Sildenafil, a phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor, has been found to produce functional recovery in ischemic rats by increasing the cGMP level and triggering neurogenesis. The aim of this study was to investigate further sildenafil mechanisms.

Methods

Male Sprague-Dawley rats underwent middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion, followed by intraperitoneal or intravenous treatment of sildenafil starting 2 h later. Behavioral tests were performed on day 1 or day 7 after reperfusion, while cerebral infarction, edema, Nissl staining, Fluoro-Jade B staining, and electron microscopy studies were carried out 24 h poststroke. The cGMP-dependent Nogo-66 receptor (Nogo-R) pathway, synaptophysin, PSD-95/neuronal nitric oxide synthases (nNOS), brain-derived neurotrophic facto

SUBMITTER: Chen XM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6493202 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature