Reduction in ischemic brain injury following the administration of pentoxifylline after transient global ischemia/reperfusion in a rat model

It is well known that the hippocampus, the CA1 Pyramidal cells in particular, is selectively
vulnerable during global cerebral ischemia. Recently, it is observed that pentoxifylline has a
neuroprotective effect. This study explored the pharmacological relationship between ischemiainduced
cell death of the hippocampus and the efficacy of a vasodilator agent (pentoxifylline) in the
prevention of delayed neuronal death.
Methods: This experimental study was performed on 4 groups: control, ischemia, experimental
(200mg/kg pentoxifylline injection one hour prior to and one hour following ischemia) and vehicle
(normal saline). Transient global ischemia was induced by bilateral common carotid arteries occlusion.
To investigate the apoptotic bodies and caspase-3 activities as a central role in the execution
phase of apoptosis, the brains were prepared for the TUNEL technique.
Results: Pentoxifylline administration limited apoptosis and caspase-3 activities in rats’ hippocampi.
Our data showed no significant difference between the number of apoptotic bodies in the CA1
region of the hippocampus in the control and pentoxifylline -treated groups (p= 0.994). The results
of one- way ANOVA revealed that that ischemia significantly increased caspase-3 levels in the hippocampus
(p< 0.05); however, the level of caspase-3 in pentoxifylline -treated rats was less than the
ischemic group.
Conclusion: These results suggest that the neuroprotective effect of pentoxifylline (200mg/kg) may
be accompanied by a reduction in ischemic damage within the CA1 region of the hippocampus in
rats subjected to transient global cerebral ischemia.