biostudies-literatureUnknown8(18)Cui L<h4>Background</h4>Ulinastatin, a urinary trypsin inhibitor, is one of the widely used auxiliary drugs in the rescue of acute circulatory failure. This study aims to explore the protective mechanisms of ulinastatin on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury.<h4>Methods</h4>A cerebral MCAO was established with middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in Sprague Dawley (SD) rats. Western blotting was employed to show protein expression. Oxidative stress markers [reactive oxygen species (ROS), superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), and glutathione (GSH)] and inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-1β, and IL-18) were analyzed to show oxidative stress and inflammation. Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) and triphenyltetrazAnnals of translational medicine1136https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC7576027biostudies-literatureUlinastatin alleviates cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats by activating the Nrf-2/HO-1 signaling pathway.PMC7576027Xia YLi XCui LCao WfalseUlinastatin alleviates cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats by activating the Nrf-2/HO-1 signaling pathway.<h4>Background</h4>Ulinastatin, a urinary trypsin inhibitor, is one of the widely used auxiliary drugs in the rescue of acute circulatory failure. This study aims to explore the protective mechanisms of ulinastatin on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury.<h4>Methods</h4>A cerebral MCAO was established with middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in Sprague Dawley (SD) rats. Western blotting was employed to show protein expression. Oxidative stress markers [reactive oxygen species (ROS), superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), and glutathione (GSH)] and inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-1β, and IL-18) were analyzed to show oxidative stress and inflammation. Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) and triphenyltetraz2020-01-01T00:00:00Z2020 Sep2025-04-04T23:46:46.462Z2025-04-04T23:46:46.462ZS-EPMC75760273324098510.21037/atm-20-5115