KETOPROFEN, A NONSTEROIDAL ANTIINFLAMMATORY DRUG PREVENTS THE LATE-ONSET REDUCTION OF MUSCARINIC RECEPTORS IN GERBIL HIPPOCAMPUS AFTER TRANSIENT FOREBRAIN ISCHEMIA

Ischemia-induced hippocampal late-onset reduction of muscarinic acetyl choline receptors (LORMAR) begins as late as 7 days after transient fo rebrain ischemia in the gerbil, but it precedes to completion of neuro nal death in the CA1 region. We previously reported that post-ischemic administration of cyclosporin A prevented LORMAR with suppression of astroglial and microglial activation. In the present study, we showed that the chronic post-ischemic administration of a non-steroidal anti- inflammatory drug, ketoprofen (5 mg/kg, subcutaneously, twice a day fo r 14 days) significantly reduced LORMAR both 14 days and 21 days after the 5-min transient ischemia. This protective effect of ketoprofen ag ainst LORMAR suggests that the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs i s clinically efficacious in the treatment of LORMAR, a sequela of cere bral ischemia. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.