Use of a poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitor to suppress inflammation and neuronal death after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion

Background and Purpose-Most stroke patients do not present for medical treatment until several hours after onset of brain ischemia. Consequently, neuroprotective strategies are required with comparably long therapeutic windows. Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors such as PJ34 are known to suppress microglial activation, a postischemic event that may contribute to neuronal death. We evaluated the effects of PJ34 administered 8 hours after transient forebrain ischemia. Methods-Rats were subjected to 10 minutes of forebrain ischemia and treated with PJ34 for 7 days beginning 8 hours after reperfusion. Activated microglia and infiltrating macrophages were evaluated at serial time points between zero and 14 days after ischemia by immunostaining for CD11b. CA1 neuronal survival was evaluated 7 days after ischemia. Results-Rats treated with PJ34 showed a near-complete inhibition of microglia/macrophage activation (evaluated on day 5) and an 84% reduction in CA1 neuronal death. Conclusions-Administration of PJ34 as late as 8 hours after transient ischemia-reperfusion has a large protective effect on CA1 survival. This effect may be mediated by suppression of the postischemic brain inflammatory response. (Stroke. 2007;38[part 2]:632-636.)