BACKGROUND

The pathological form of synaptic plasticity, ischemic long-term potentiation (iLTP), induced by oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD), is implicated in the acute phase of stroke with the potentiation of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR). While there has been widespread attention on the excitatory system, a recent study reported that γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic system is also involved in iLTP. Valproic acid (VPA), a histone deacetylase inhibitor, protects against ischemic damage. However, whether VPA regulates early phase plasticity in ischemic stroke remains unknown. The present study aims to investigate the potential role and mechanism of VPA in ischemic stroke.

METHODS

A brief exposure of OGD on the hippocampal slices and the induction of photothrombotic ischemia (PTI) were used as ex vivo and in vivo models of ischemic stroke, respectively.

RESULTS

Using extracellular recordings, iLTP was induced in the hippocampal Schaffer collateral pathway following OGD exposure. VPA treatment abolished hippocampal iLTP via GABA receptor enhancement and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) phosphorylation. Administration of VPA reduced brain infarct volume and motor dysfunction in mice with PTI. Moreover, VPA protected against ischemic injury by upregulating the GABAergic system and ERK phosphorylation, as well as by reducing of matrix metalloproteinase in a PTI-induced ischemic stroke model.

CONCLUSIONS

Together, this study revealed the protection of VPA in ex vivo OGD-induced pathological form of neuroplasticity and in vivo PTI-induced brain damage and motor dysfunction through rescuing GABAergic deficiency and the pathological hallmarks of ischemia.