IL-10 REDUCES RAT-BRAIN INJURY FOLLOWING FOCAL STROKE

The effects of the anti-inflammatory cytokine, IL-10, on brain injury following permanent focal ischemia were determined. Rats subjected to occlusion of the right middle cerebral artery (MCAO) were administered IL-10 (1 mu g) centrally into the lateral ventricle 30 min and 3 h po st MCAO or systemically into the tail vein (5 or 15 mu g/h) starting 3 0 min post MCAO for 3 h. Brains were removed 24 h later and infarct si ze was measured. IL-10 administered centrally significantly (P < 0.01) reduced infarct size by 20.7% +/- 6.0 compared to vehicle. Systemic I L-10 administration at 5 and 15 mu g/h significantly (P < 0.05) decrea sed infarct size (40.3% +/- 14.0 and 30.7% +/- 13.7, respectively). Th ese studies indicate that an anti-inflammatory therapeutic approach us ing IL-10 can provide neuroprotection in ischemic stroke. (C) 1998 Els evier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.