ABSTRACT
[ ABSTRACT] AIM:To study the effect of idazoxan ( IDA) on the permeability of blood-brain barrier ( BBB) and the expression of matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP-1) in mouse ex-perimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE).METHODS: Female C57BL/6 mice (n=36) were randomly divided into control group, EAE group and IDA group, with 12 mice in each group.EAE was induced by myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein 35-55 ( MOG35-55 ) .IDA (2 mg/kg, ip, bid) was administered for 15 d after immunization.The neurological defects of the mice were observed daily and scored.The pathological changes were observed under microscope with HE stai-ning and LFB myelin staining.The BBB permeability was detected by Evans blue extravasation.The expression of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in the brain of EAE mice was determined by Western blotting.RESULTS: Compared with EAE group, the score of neurological defects in IDA group was decreased, the inflammation was relieved, the BBB permeability was re-duced, and the expression MMP-9 and the ratio of MMP-9/TIMP-1 were decreased ( P<0.05 ) .CONCLUSION: The neuroprotective effect of IDA on mouse EAE might be related to the down-regulation of MMP-9 and the ratio of MMP-9/TIMP-1, thus reducing the degradation of BBB and the permeability of BBB, and ameliorating the pathologic process of EAE.