Neuroprotective effect of paricalcitol in a rat model of transient global cerebral ischemia.

Abstract

Background Paricalcitol has been known to attenuate ischemic-reperfusion injury of various organs. However, it is not known whether paricalcitol prevents neuronal injury after global cerebral ischemia.The purpose of this study is to investigate the neuroprotective effect of paricalcitol in a rat model of transient global cerebral ischemia.Methods This is a prospective, randomized, experimental study. Male Sprague-Dawley rats survived from 10 min of four-vessel occlusion were randomized to the two treatment groups treated with paricalcitol 1 μg/kg IP and an equivalent volume of normal saline IP, respectively. Drugs were administered at 5 min, 1 day, 2 days, and 3 days after ischemia. Neurologic function score was assessed at 2 h, 1 day, 2 days, 3 days, and 4 days after ischemia. We tested the motor function 3 days after ischemia using the rotarod test. Also, we tested memory function 4 days after ischemia using the passive-avoidance test. We assessed neuronal degeneration in the hippocampus of surviving rats 4 days after ischemia.Results 8 rats were allocated to each group. No significant differences were found in terms of survival rate, motor coordination, or memory function. The neurological function score 2 h post ischemia was significantly high in the paricalcitol group (p = 0.04). Neuronal degeneration was significantly less in the paricalcitol group compared with the control (p = 0.01).Conclusions Paricalcitol significantly attenuated neuronal injury in the hippocampus. Although motor coordination, memory function, and survival rate were not significantly improved, paricalcitol remains a potential neuroprotective drug after global cerebral ischemia. Affiliation