Abstract

Background: We examined the possible protective effects of fullerenol nanoparticles on brain injuries and oedema in experimental model of ischaemic stroke through inhibition of oxidative damage and aquaporin-1 (AQP-1) expression. Methods: Experiment was done in three groups of rats (N = 66): sham, control ischaemia and ischaemic treatment. Ischaemia was induced by 90-minutes middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO) followed by 24 hours of reperfusion. Rats received a dose of 10 mg/kg of fullerenol 30 minutes before MCAO: Infarction, brain oedema, malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitrate contents as well as mRNA level of AQP-1 were determined 24 hours after termination of MCAO. Results: Administration of fullerenol before MCAO significantly reduced the infarction of cortex and striatum by 72 and 77, respectively. MCAO induced brain oedema in control ischaemic rats (3.83 +/- 0.53), whereas, fullerenol significantly reduced it (0:91 +/- 035). The contents of MDA and nitrate increased in ischaemic hemispheres by 86 and 41, respectively. Fullerenol considerably reduced the MDA and nitrate contents by 83 and 48, respectively. Moreover, MCAO noticeably increased the mRNA level of AQP-1 in ischaemic hemispheres by 22, whereas fullerenol significantly decreased it by 29. Discussion: Fullerenol is able to reduce ischaemia-induced brain injuries and oedema possibly through inhibition, of oxidative damage and AQP-1 expression, in ischaemic stroke.