[Protective effect of leptin against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury in mice].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the protective effect of leptin against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury in mice.

METHODS

Mouse models of transient focal cerebral ischemia were established by occlusion of the right middle cerebral artery for 2 h followed by 24 h reperfusion. The infarct volume and neurological deficit scores following leptin treatment were determined using TTC staining and the Longa's score, respectively, to evaluate the protective effect of leptin against ischemic cerebral injury. The levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) in the brain tissue were measured by colorimetry. The histopathological changes in the brain were observed with HE staining, and the expression of glial fibrillary acidicprotein (GFAP) was detected by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

Leptin treatment markedly reduced cerebral infarct volume and neurological deficits induced by transient ischemia. The LDH, MDA and NO levels in the brain tissues were significantly decreased after leptin treatment, which also alleviated the histopathological injury, maintained the normal morphology of the astrocytes and increased the expression of GFAP.

CONCLUSION

Leptin produces obvious protective effect against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury by inhibiting lipid peroxidation, stabilizing the internal environment and adjusting the activity of the astrocytes.