Protective Effect of Endothelin Type A Receptor Antagonist on Brain Edema and Injury After Transient Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion in Rats

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Abstract
Background and Purpose— Recent evidence strongly suggests that endothelins (ETs) play an important role in the regulation of blood-brain barrier (BBB) functions. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the role of ETs on edema formation and BBB permeability change after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion. Methods— We examined the brain tissue ET-1 content and evaluated the time and dose response of the therapeutic effects of the specific ET type A receptor (ETA) antagonist, S-0139, on brain edema formation, development of infarction, and disruption of BBB after 1 hour of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in rats. Results— After 1-hour MCAO and reperfusion, the brain ET-1 content did not change during the first 3 hours, increased at 6 hours, and rose almost continuously over 48 hours in the ischemic region as well as in the ischemic rim. Rats infused with S-0139 (0.03 to 1.0 mg/kg per hour) during reperfusion showed dose-dependent and significant attenuation of the increase in brain water content 24 ...