A novel embolic middle cerebral artery occlusion model induced by thrombus formed in common carotid artery in rat

Kaempferol promotes angiogenesis through HIF-1α/VEGF-A/Notch1 pathway in ischemic stroke rats

Stroke is a severe disease characterized by the obstruction of blood vessels in the central nervous system. An essential therapeutic strategy for ischemic stroke is strengthening angiogenesis, which effectively promotes the long-term recovery of neurological function. Therefore, it is critical to explore and develop new drugs that promote angiogenesis after ischemic stroke. Kaempferol has been employed to treat ischemic diseases; However, its proangiogenic effects in ischemic stroke remain unclear. In the study, we explored the long-term therapeutic effects and mechanisms of kaempferol on ischemic stroke in vivo and in vitro. A rat model of autologous thrombus stroke and oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD)-induced human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMECs) model was established to assess the effects of kaempferol in vivo (50 mg/kg/d, ig, 14 d) and in vitro (0.1, 0.3, 1 μmol L-1). The results showed that long-term administration of kaempferol ameliorated neurological deficits and infarct volume in ischemic stroke rats. In addition, kaempferol relieved vascular embolization; enhanced microvascular endothelial cell survival, proliferation, migration, and lumen formation; increased the density of microvessels in the peri-infarct cortex; and promoted neovascular structure remodeling by increasing the coverage of astrocyte end-feet and expression of tight-junction proteins (TJPs). Further analysis revealed that the HIF-1α/VEGF-A/Notch1 signaling pathway was activated by kaempferol, and that inhibition of Notch1 blocked kaempferol-induced angiogenesis. Taken together, our results indicate that kaempferol exerts neuroprotective effects by stimulating endogenous angiogenesis and neovascular structural remodeling via the HIF-1α/VEGF-A/Notch1 signaling pathway, suggesting the therapeutic potential of kaempferol in ischemic stroke.

Animal models of epilepsy after ischemic stroke

Stroke ranks among the foremost causes of disability and mortality globally, with ischemic stroke (IS) being the most prevalent subtype. Post-stroke epilepsy (PSE) represents a significant and common complication following a stroke, imposing substantial burdens on patients, their families, and society at large. Establishing a reliable animal model is crucial for investigating the mechanisms and potential treatments for PSE. This article offers a review of studies pertaining to animal models of epilepsy subsequent to ischemic stroke.

Dual-modal super-resolution ultrasound and NIR-II fluorescence imaging of ischemic stroke with ICG-doped porous PLGA microspheres

Ischemic stroke, resulting from the obstruction of blood flow to the brain, remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Traditional imaging modalities, such as magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography, while effective for identifying stroke locations, are often limited in their ability to detect early pathological changes due to constraints in spatial resolution and sensitivity. This study introduces a novel dual-modal imaging approach that employs indocyanine green-doped porous poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microspheres (ICG-pPLGA MPs) for super-resolution ultrasound and near-infrared II (NIR-II) fluorescence imaging of ischemic stroke. The porous structure of ICG-pPLGA MPs enhances their stability, prolongs their circulation time, and improves ultrasound contrast compared to commercial lipid microbubbles. Additionally, the NIR-II fluorescence allows for high-resolution and noninvasive visualization of superficial vasculature. In a rat model of ischemic stroke, we demonstrate the capability of ICG-pPLGA MPs to achieve high-resolution imaging of cerebrovascular structures and functions, surpassing the imaging performance of standard diffusion-weighted imaging. Our findings underscore the potential of this dual-modal imaging technique using ICG-pPLGA MPs to accurately characterize microvascular changes during ischemic events, thus offering valuable insights for early diagnosis and therapeutic monitoring.

A novel NIR-II albumin-escaping probe for cerebral arteries and perfusion imaging in stroke mice model

In order to guide the formulation of post-stroke treatment strategy in time, it is necessary to have real-time feedback on collateral circulation and revascularization. Currently used near-infrared II (NIR-II) probes have inherent binding with endogenous albumin, resulting in significant background signals and uncontrollable pharmacokinetics. Therefore, the albumin-escaping properties of the new probe, IR-808AC, was designed, which achieved timely excretion and low background signal, enabling the short-term repeatable injection for visualization of cerebral vessels and perfusion. We further achieved continuous observation of changes in collateral vessels and perfusion during the 7-d period in middle cerebral artery occlusion mice using IR-808AC in vivo. Furthermore, using IR-808AC, we confirmed that remote ischemic conditioning could promote collateral vessels and perfusion. Finally, we evaluated the revascularization after thrombolysis on time in embolic stroke mice using IR-808AC. Overall, our study introduces a novel methodology for safe, non-invasive, and repeatable assessment of collateral circulation and revascularization in real-time that is crucial for the optimization of treatment strategies.

Lipocalin-2 aggravates blood-brain barrier dysfunction after intravenous thrombolysis by promoting endothelial cell ferroptosis via regulating the HMGB1/Nrf2/HO-1 pathway

BACKGROUND

Disruption of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a major contributor to hemorrhagic transformation (HT) in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) following intravenous thrombolysis (IVT). However, the clinical therapies aimed at BBB protection after IVT remain limited.

METHODS

One hundred patients with AIS who underwent IVT were enrolled (42 with HT and 58 without HT 24 h after IVT). Based on the cytokine chip, the serum levels of several AIS-related proteins, including LCN2, ferritin, matrix metalloproteinase-3, vascular endothelial-derived growth factor, and X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis, were detected upon admission, and their associations with HT were analyzed. After finding that LCN2 was related to HT in patients with IVT, we clarified whether the modulation of LCN2 influenced BBB dysfunction and HT after thrombolysis and investigated the potential mechanism.

RESULTS

In patients with AIS following IVT, logistic regression analysis showed that baseline serum LCN2 (p = 0.023) and ferritin (p = 0.046) levels were independently associated with HT. A positive correlation between serum LCN2 and ferritin levels was identified in patients with HT. In experimental studies, recombinant LCN2 (rLCN2) significantly aggravated BBB dysfunction and HT in the thromboembolic stroke rats after thrombolysis, whereas LCN2 inhibition by ZINC006440089 exerted opposite effects. Further mechanistic studies showed that, LCN2 promoted endothelial cell ferroptosis, accompanied by the induction of high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) and the inhibition of nuclear translocation of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) proteins. Ferroptosis inhibitor ferrostatin-1 (fer-1) significantly restricted the LCN2-mediated BBB disruption. Transfection of LCN2 and HMGB1 siRNA inhibited the endothelial cell ferroptosis, and this effects was reversed by Nrf2 siRNA.

CONCLUSION

LCN2 aggravated BBB disruption after thrombolysis by promoting endothelial cell ferroptosis via regulating the HMGB1/Nrf2/HO-1 pathway, this may provide a promising therapeutic target for the prevention of HT after IVT.

A low bleeding risk thrombolytic agent: citPA5

AIMS

Alteplase is a cornerstone thrombolytic agent in clinical practice but presents a potential bleeding risk. Stroke patients need pre-screening to exclude haemorrhagic stroke before using alteplase. In this study, we develop a new thrombolytic agent citPA5, characterized by an enhanced safety profile and minimal bleeding tendency.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A clot lysis agent, named citPA5, is developed based on rtPA with point mutations to completely suppress its proteolytic activity in the absence of fibrin. In the presence of fibrin, citPA5 exhibited significantly higher fibrinolytic activity (a 15.8-fold increase of kcat/Km). Furthermore, citPA5 showed resistance to endogenous fibrinolysis inhibitor, PAI-1, resulting in enhanced potency. In a series of safety evaluation experiments, including thrombelastography assay, mice tail bleeding assay, and a murine intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) model, citPA5 did not cause systemic bleeding or worsen ICH compared with alteplase. This highlights the low risk of bleeding associated with citPA5. Finally, we found that citPA5 effectively improved cerebral blood flow and reduced infarct volume in a carotid embolism-induced stroke model.

CONCLUSION

This clot lysis agent, citPA5, not only exhibits a low risk of bleeding but also demonstrates highly effective thrombolysis capabilities. As a result, citPA5 shows great potential for administration prior to the classification of stroke types, making it possible for use in ambulances at the onset of stroke when symptoms are identified. The findings presented in this study also suggest that this strategy could be applied to develop a new generation of fibrinolytic drugs that offer greater safety and specificity in targeting fibrin.

A canine thromboembolic model of anterior circulation large vessel occlusion stroke

Purpose

To develop a large animal preclinical model of thromboembolic stroke with stable, protracted large vessel occlusion (LVO) utilizing an autologous clot.

Materials and methods

A reproducible canine model of large vessel occlusion stroke was established by endovascular placement of an autologous clot into the middle cerebral artery (MCA) of six adult hounds and confirmed using digital subtraction angiography (DSA). Infarct volume and evidence of hemorrhage were determined by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) 7 h after occlusion and Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction scale (TICI) was assessed before and after clot placement and at 1, 6, 7, and 9 h after middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) were monitored continuously and invasively through an arterial sheath throughout the procedures and complete blood count and blood gas analysis completed at time of sacrifice. Histopathological findings at time of sacrifice were used to confirm stroke volume and hemorrhage.

Results

MCAO with resulting TICI 0 flow was observed in all six animals, verified by serial DSA, and lack of collateral flow persisted for 9 h after clot placement until time of sacrifice. The mean infarct volume was 47.0 ± 6.7% of the ipsilateral hemisphere and no events of spontaneous recanalization or clot autolysis were observed.

Conclusion

We demonstrate a thromboembolic canine model of MCAO that is both feasible and results in consistent infarct volumes to generate a clinically relevant LVO. This model is important to evaluate treatment of LVO in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) outside the established 4.5 h recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rTPA) therapeutic window utilizing a prolonged occlusive thrombus.

Remote ischemic conditioning attenuates blood-brain barrier disruption after recombinant tissue plasminogen activator treatment via reducing PDGF-CC

Treatment of acute ischemic stroke with the recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA) is associated with increased blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption and hemorrhagic transformation. Remote ischemic conditioning (RIC) has demonstrated neuroprotective effects against acute ischemic stroke. However, whether and how RIC regulates rtPA-associated BBB disruption remains unclear. Here, a rodent model of thromboembolic stroke followed by rtPA thrombolysis at different time points was performed with or without RIC. Brain infarction, neurological outcomes, BBB permeability, and intracerebral hemorrhage were assessed. The platelet-derived growth factor CC (PDGF-CC)/PDGFRα pathway in the brain tissue, PDGF-CC levels in the skeletal muscle and peripheral blood were also measured. Furthermore, impact of RIC on serum PDGF-CC levels were measured in healthy subjects and AIS patients. Our results showed that RIC substantially reduced BBB injury, intracerebral hemorrhage, cerebral infarction, and neurological deficits after stroke, even when rtPA was administrated in a delayed therapeutic time window. Mechanistically, RIC significantly decreased PDGFRα activation in ischemic brain tissue and reduced blood PDGF-CC levels, which partially resulted from PDGF-CC reduction in the skeletal muscle of RIC-applied hindlimbs and platelets. Intravenous or intraventricular recombinant PDGF-CC supplementation abolished RIC protective effects on BBB integrity. Moreover, similar changes of PDGF-CC in serum by RIC were also observed in healthy humans and acute ischemic stroke patients. Together, our study demonstrates that RIC can attenuate rtPA-aggravated BBB disruption after ischemic stroke via reducing the PDGF-CC/PDGFRα pathway and thus supports RIC as a potential approach for BBB disruption prevention or treatment following thrombolysis.

Long-term administration of salvianolic acid A promotes endogenous neurogenesis in ischemic stroke rats through activating Wnt3a/GSK3β/β-catenin signaling pathway

Stroke is the major cause of death and disability worldwide. Most stroke patients who survive in the acute phase of ischemia display various extents of neurological deficits. In order to improve the prognosis of ischemic stroke, promoting endogenous neurogenesis has attracted great attention. Salvianolic acid A (SAA) has shown neuroprotective effects against ischemic diseases. In the present study, we investigated the neurogenesis effects of SAA in ischemic stroke rats, and explored the underlying mechanisms. An autologous thrombus stroke model was established by electrocoagulation. The rats were administered SAA (10 mg/kg, ig) or a positive drug edaravone (5 mg/kg, iv) once a day for 14 days. We showed that SAA administration significantly decreased infarction volume and vascular embolism, and ameliorated pathological injury in the hippocampus and striatum as well as the neurological deficits as compared with the model rats. Furthermore, we found that SAA administration significantly promoted neural stem/progenitor cells (NSPCs) proliferation, migration and differentiation into neurons, enhanced axonal regeneration and diminished neuronal apoptosis around the ipsilateral subventricular zone (SVZ), resulting in restored neural density and reconstructed neural circuits in the ischemic striatum. Moreover, we revealed that SAA-induced neurogenesis was associated to activating Wnt3a/GSK3β/β-catenin signaling pathway and downstream target genes in the hippocampus and striatum. Edaravone exerted equivalent inhibition on neuronal apoptosis in the SVZ, as SAA, but edaravone-induced neurogenesis was weaker than that of SAA. Taken together, our results demonstrate that long-term administration of SAA improves neurological function through enhancing endogenous neurogenesis and inhibiting neuronal apoptosis in ischemic stroke rats via activating Wnt3a/GSK3β/β-catenin signaling pathway. SAA may be a potential therapeutic drug to promote neurogenesis after stroke.

Pinocembrin attenuates hemorrhagic transformation after delayed t-PA treatment in thromboembolic stroke rats by regulating endogenous metabolites

Hemorrhagic transformation (HT) is a common serious complication of stroke after thrombolysis treatment, which limits the clinical use of tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA). Since early diagnosis and treatment for HT is important to improve the prognosis of stroke patients, it is urgent to discover the potential biomarkers and therapeutic drugs. Recent evidence shows that pinocembrin, a natural flavonoid compound, exerts anti-cerebral ischemia effect and expands the time window of t-PA. In this study, we investigated the effect of pinocembrin on t-PA-induced HT and the potential biomarkers for HT after t-PA thrombolysis, thereby improving the prognosis of stroke. Electrocoagulation-induced thrombotic focal ischemic rats received intravenous infusion of t-PA (10 mg/kg) 6 h after ischemia. Administration of pinocembrin (10 mg/kg, iv) prior t-PA infusion significantly decreased the infarct volume, ameliorated t-PA-induced HT, and protected blood-brain barrier. Metabolomics analysis revealed that 5 differential metabolites in the cerebral cortex and 16 differential metabolites in serum involved in amino acid metabolism and energy metabolism were significantly changed after t-PA thrombolysis, whereas pinocembrin administration exerted significant intervention effects on these metabolites. Linear regression analysis showed that lactic acid was highly correlated to the occurrence of HT. Further experiments confirmed that t-PA treatment significantly increased the content of lactic acid and the activity of lactate dehydrogenase in the cerebral cortex and serum, and the expression of monocarboxylate transporter 1 (MCT 1) in the cerebral cortex; pinocembrin reversed these changes, which was consistent with the result of metabolomics. These results demonstrate that pinocembrin attenuates HT after t-PA thrombolysis, which may be associated with the regulation of endogenous metabolites. Lactic acid may be a potential biomarker for HT prediction and treatment.

Xiao-Xu-Ming decoction prevented hemorrhagic transformation induced by acute hyperglycemia through inhibiting AGE-RAGE-mediated neuroinflammation

Stroke is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Hemorrhagic transformation (HT) is a common serious complication of ischemic stroke (IS) and is related to poor prognosis. Hyperglycemia after stroke is associated with the occurrence of HT and seriously affects the clinical treatment of stroke. Our previous experiments demonstrated that the Xiao-Xu-Ming decoction effective components group (XXMD), which is a Chinese medicine formula reconstituted by active ingredients, has multiple pharmacological effects in the treatment of IS. However, the effects of XXMD on HT after IS remain unclear. Thus, we investigated the preventive effects of XXMD on hyperglycemia-induced HT and further explored the underlying mechanism. Acute hyperglycemia combined with the electrocoagulation cerebral ischemia model was used to establish the HT model. XXMD (37.5, 75, 150 mg/kg/d) was given by gavage for 5 days. Network pharmacology was used to predict potential targets and pathways of XXMD in HT occurrence, and further studies confirmed the related targets. The results showed that hyperglycemia aggravated neurological deficits and blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption, leading to intracerebral hemorrhage. Pretreatment with XXMD improved neurological function and BBB integrity and inhibited HT occurrence. Network pharmacology revealed that AGE-RAGE-mediated neuroinflammation may be associated with hyperglycemia-induced HT. Further studies confirmed that hyperglycemia activated the AGE-RAGE signaling pathway, increased the expression of HMGB1, TLR4 and p-p65, and induced the release of inflammatory factors and neutrophil infiltration, leading to HT. XXMD could inhibit AGE-RAGE-mediated neuroinflammation. These findings indicated that pretreatment with XXMD alleviated hyperglycemia-induced HT, which may be associated with the inhibition of AGE-RAGE-mediated neuroinflammation. Therefore, XXMD may be a potential therapeutic drug for HT.

Inhibition of hypoxia inducible factor 1 by YC-1 attenuates tissue plasminogen activator induced hemorrhagic transformation by suppressing HMGB1/TLR4/NF-κB mediated neutrophil infiltration in thromboembolic stroke rats

Hemorrhagic transformation (HT) is a frequent complication of ischemic stroke after thrombolytic therapy and seriously affects the prognosis of stroke. Due to the limited therapeutic window and hemorrhagic complications, tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) is underutilized in acute ischemic stroke. Currently, there are no clinically effective drugs to decrease the incidence of t-PA-induced HT. Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) is an important transcription factor that maintains oxygen homeostasis and mediates neuroinflammation under hypoxia. However, the effect of HIF-1 on t-PA-induced HT is not clear. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of HIF-1 in t-PA-induced HT by applying YC-1, an inhibitor of HIF-1. In the present study, we found that HIF-1 expression was significantly increased in ischemic brain tissue after delayed t-PA treatment and was mainly localized in neurons and endothelial cells. Inhibition of HIF-1 by YC-1 improved infarct volume and neurological deficits. YC-1 inhibited matrix metalloproteinase protein expression, increased tight junction protein expression, and ameliorated BBB disruption and the occurrence of HT. Furthermore, YC-1 suppressed the release of inflammatory factors, neutrophil infiltration and the activation of the HMGB1/TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway. These results demonstrated that inhibition of HIF-1 could protect BBB integrity by suppressing HMGB1/TLR4/NF-κB-mediated neutrophil infiltration, thereby reducing the risk of t-PA-induced HT. Thus, HIF-1 may be a potential therapeutic target for t-PA-induced HT.

Salvianolic acid A prevented cerebrovascular endothelial injury caused by acute ischemic stroke through inhibiting the Src signaling pathway

Stroke is an acute cerebrovascular disease caused by ruptured or blocked blood vessels. For the prevention of ischemic stroke, the coagulation state of blood and cerebrovascular protection should be considered. Our previous study has shown that salvianolic acid A (SAA), which is a water-soluble component from the root of Salvia Miltiorrhiza Bge, prevents thrombosis with a mild inhibitory effect on platelet aggregation. In this study we investigated the preventive effects of SAA on cerebrovascular endothelial injury caused by ischemia in vivo and oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) in vitro, and explored the underlying mechanisms. An autologous thrombus stroke model was established in SD rats by electrocoagulation. SAA (10 mg/kg) was orally administered twice a day for 5 days before the operation. The rats were sacrificed at 24 h after the operation. We showed that pretreatment with SAA significantly improved the neurological deficits, intracerebral hemorrhage, BBB disruption, and vascular endothelial dysfunction as compared with model group. In human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMECs), pretreatment with SAA (10 μM) significantly inhibited OGD-induced cell viability reduction and degradation of tight junction proteins (ZO-1, occludin, claudin-5). Furthermore, we found that SAA inhibited the upregulation of Src signaling pathway in vivo and vitro and reversed the increased expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) after ischemic stroke. In conclusion, our results suggest that SAA protects cerebrovascular endothelial cells against ischemia and OGD injury via suppressing Src signaling pathway. These findings show that pretreatment with SAA is a potential therapeutic strategy for the prevention of ischemic stroke.

Edaravone Exerts Brain Protective Function by Reducing the Expression of AQP4, APP and Aβ Proteins

This study aims to investigate the changes of aquaporin-4 (AQP4), β-amyloid precursor proteins (APP) and β-amyloid (Aβ) in brain tissues after cerebral ischemiareperfusion injury (CIRI), and evaluate the effect of edaravone. The Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion was used to establish CIRI in rats. Rats were divided into control, model and edaravone groups. The neurological deficits in the model group were obvious and the neurological score increased compared to the control group, while the neurological deficits of the edaravone group were improved as the neurological score decreased compared to the model group. The number of pyramidel cells in the hippocampus of the model group was significantly decreased whereas edaravone could reverse this decrease. The model group had significantly higher levels of Aβ, APP and AQP4 than the control group and edaravone group, suggesting that they might be involved in the neuronal cell damage. Meanwhile, the increased AQP4 might enhance the permeability of cells, and thus cause cell damage and neurological deficit. Conclusively, edaravone could reduce brain edema, protect neuronal cells and improve the neurological impairment of rats possibly by decreasing the expression of Aβ, APP and AQP4. Therefore, edaravone may have the potential to treat neurodegenerative diseases (such as Alzheimer's disease).

Pinocembrin Protects Blood-Brain Barrier Function and Expands the Therapeutic Time Window for Tissue-Type Plasminogen Activator Treatment in a Rat Thromboembolic Stroke Model

Tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) remains the only approved therapy for acute ischemic stroke but has a restrictive treatment time window of 4.5 hr. Prolonged ischemia causes blood-brain barrier (BBB) damage and increases the incidence of hemorrhagic transformation (HT) secondary to reperfusion. In this study, we sought to determine the effect of pinocembrin (PCB; a pleiotropic neuroprotective agent) on t-PA administration-induced BBB damage in a novel rat thromboembolic stroke model. By assessing the leakage of Evans blue into the ischemic hemisphere, we demonstrated that PCB pretreatment 5 min before t-PA administration significantly reduced BBB damage following 2 hr, 4 hr, 6 hr, and even 8 hr ischemia. Consistently, PCB pretreatment significantly decreased t-PA infusion-resulting brain edema and infarction volume and improved the behavioral outcomes following 6 hr ischemia. Mechanistically, PCB pretreatment inhibited the activation of MMP-2 and MMP-9 and degradation of tight junction proteins (TJPs) occludin and claudin-5 in the ischemic hemisphere. Moreover, PCB pretreatment significantly reduced phosphorylation of platelet-derived growth factor receptor α (PDGFRα) as compared with t-PA alone. In an in vitro BBB model, PCB decreased transendothelial permeability upon hypoxia/aglycemia through inhibiting PDGF-CC secretion. In conclusion, we demonstrated that PCB pretreatment shortly before t-PA infusion significantly protects BBB function and improves neurological outcomes following prolonged ischemia beyond the regular 4.5 hr t-PA time window. PCB pretreatment may represent a novel means of increasing the safety and the therapeutic time window of t-PA following ischemic stroke.

Cytomembrane ATP-sensitive K+ channels in neurovascular unit targets of ischemic stroke in the recovery period

The present study was to analyze the mechanism of cytomembrane ATP-sensitive K⁺ channels (K_ATP) in the neurovascular unit treatment of ischemic stroke in the recovery period. A total of 24 healthy adult male Wistar rats of 5–8 weeks age, weighing 160–200 g were randomly divided into the control (sham-operation group), model, K_ATP blocker and K_ATP opener groups (n=6 rats per group). Nylon cerebral artery occlusion was conducted using nylon monofilament coated with Poly-L-lysine, which was used to produce a cerebral infarction model. After feeding normally for 3 days, 5-hydroxydecanoate (40 mg/Kg), and diazoxide (40 mg/Kg) were injected to the abdominal cavity in the blocker, and opener groups, respectively. The control received an equivalent normal saline that was injected into the sham-operation and model groups. The animals were mutilated and samples were collected after 3 days. RT-PCR was used to detect the expression levels of the three subunits of K_ATP, i.e., kir6.1, and sulfonylurea receptor (SUR) 1 and SUR2 mRNA, as well as to calculate infarct size in tetrazolium chloride staining. The expression level of mRNA in the opener group were significantly higher, followed by the model and blocker groups, with the control group being the lowest (P<0.05). Infarct size in the opener group was markedly smaller than the model and blocker groups, and infarct size in the blocker group was significantly larger (P<0.05). Thus, the target treatment on K_ATP may improve the prognosis of ischemic stroke during the recovery period.