Post-stroke treatment with pioglitazone reduced brain infarction and neurological deficits in stroke rats.

<p>AM1241, pioglitazone, or vehicle was given to rats from days 2 to 5 after a 60-min MCAo. (A) Animals were sacrificed on day 6 after MCAo for H&E staining. Brain infarction was found in the lesioned side (right) cortex all stroke rats. Treatment with pioglitazone reduced the size of infarction. (B) The area of infarction in brain slices was quantified every 2 mm from the rostral end. Post treatment with pioglitazone significantly reduced brain lesion. No difference was found between vehicle and AM1241 treatment groups. (C) Body asymmetry was examined using an elevated body swing test in 20 trials per each animal on days 2 (before drug treatment) and 7 (one day after 4-day drug treatment). All animals demonstrated close to 90% body asymmetry at 2 days after MCAo. No difference was found amongst groups before treatment. After treatment with pioglitazone, there was a significant reduction in body asymmetry (p = 0.006). AM1241 did not significantly alter body asymmetry on day 6 (p = 0.158). (D) Bederson’s neurological test was carried out on days 2 and 6 after MCAo. No difference was found prior to drug treatment on day 2 (p = 0.127). Treatment with pioglitazone significantly reduced Bederson’s score on day 6 post-MCAo (p = 0.001). AM1241 did not alter Bederson’s neurological scores on day 6. (#p<0.05, two-way ANOVA; * p<0.05, one way ANOVA).