Vitamin E derivative alpha-tocotrienol failed to show neuroprotective effects after embolic stroke in rats

ABSTRACT

Previous studies have demonstrated that pretreatment with alpha-tocotrienol [a-TCT] can reduce ischemic damage in mice following middle cerebral artery [MCA] occlusion. It is also reported to decrease stroke dependent brain tissue damage in 12-Lox-deficient mice and spontaneously hypertensive rats. In the present study, the neuroprotective effects of a-TCT and rosiglitazone [RGZ] at 3 hr after cerebral ischemia were investigated. Stroke was induced by embolizing a preformed clot into the MCA. Rats were assigned to vehicle, a-TCT [1 or 10 mg/kg], RGZ and sham-operation. Compared to the control group, only RGZ decreased infarct volume [P<0.05], neurological deficits [P<0.05] and sensory impairments [P<0.01] but low and high doses of a-TCT did not show any significant neuroprotective effect. Our data showed that a-TCT was not neuroprotective at 3 hr after the embolic model of stroke. Further studies should be undertaken to clarify the neuroprotective effects of a-TCT after stroke