EFFECT OF THE PROSTACYCLIN ANALOG, ILOPROST, ON INFARCT SIZE AFTER PERMANENT FOCAL CEREBRAL-ISCHEMIA

This investigation was undertaken to study the effect of iloprost, a s table analogue of prostacyclin, on infarct size after permanent focal cerebral ischemia in the rabbit. Forty-two adult rabbits were subjecte d to left middle cerebral artery occlusion via the transorbital route. Fourteen rabbits received an intravenous (IV) infusion of 30 mu g/kg iloprost, 7 rabbits received an IV infusion of 10 mu g/kg, and 9 rabbi ts received an IV infusion of 20 mu g/kg iloprost. Twelve rabbits rece ived an intravenous infusion of saline. Treatment with iloprost starte d immediately after middle cerebral artery occlusion and continued for 1 h. After killing the animals, brains were removed and five coronal slices were incubated in a 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride solutio n to determine the infarct size. Treatment with 30 mu g/kg iloprost si gnificantly reduced the infarct size compared with treatment with sali ne (3.49+/-2.79% vs. 9.03+/-4.26%, P<0.001), but the lower doses of il oprost did not have a beneficial effect on the size of the infarct. Th ese results suggest that intravenous iloprost treatment after occlusio n has a highly protective effect without any side effects such as hypo tension. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Inc.