Interleukin-1 as a Pathogenetic Mediator of Ischemic Brain Damage in Rats

Abstract

Background and Purpose It has been suggested that interleukin-1 (IL-1) is a potent inflammatory mediator and that it is synthesized and secreted into the brain parenchyma. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the contribution of IL-1 to brain edema formation after focal brain ischemia. Methods The brain water content was measured to evaluate postischemic brain injury in rats after 60 minutes of middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion. The effects of exogenous application of recombinant human interleukin-1β (rhIL-1β), anti–interleukin-1β neutralizing antibodies (anti–IL-1β), and the IL-1 blocker zinc protoporphyrin (ZnPP) on brain water content were observed, and histological technique was used to measure the infarction size and number of inflammatory cells infiltrated into the brain. Results Transient ischemia induced marked increase of brain water content, necrosis, and neutrophilic infiltration in the cortex perfused by the middle cerebral artery and the dorsal and ventral areas of the c...