Neuroprotective effects of ivermectin against transient cerebral ischemia-reperfusion in rats

This study examined the effects of ivermectin on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (IR) in rats. A rat model of transient global IR was induced by bilateral carotid artery occlusion for 20  min. Rats received ivermectin (2 mg/kg/day,ip) one hour after inducing cerebral IR for three consecutive days at 24-h intervals. Next, we examined the effects of ivermectin on brain infarction, histopathology, malondialdehyde levels, myeloperoxidase activity, spatial learning and memory, and phospho-AMPK protein levels. The results showed that ivermectin reduced brain infarct size (P <  0.001) and histopathological changes such as cerebral leukocyte accumulation and edema (P <  0.05) compared to untreated rats with IR. Treatment with ivermectin also decreased myeloperoxidase activity (P <  0.01) and malondialdehyde levels (P <  0.05) while increasing AMPK activity (P <  0.001), memory, and learning compared to the untreated IR group. Overall, we show for the first time that ivermectin conferred neuroprotective effects in a rat model of cerebral IR. Our results indicate that three days of treatment with ivermectin reduced brain infarct size, lipid peroxidation, a nd myeloperoxidase activity and improved memory and learning in rats with cerebral IR. These effects likely occurred via AMPK-dependent mechanisms.
Source: Metabolic Brain Disease - Category: Neurology Source Type: research