Functional Recovery after Scutellarin Treatment in Transient Cerebral Ischemic Rats: A Pilot Study with 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose MicroPET

Objective. To investigate neuroprotective effects of scutellarin (Scu) in a rat model of cerebral ischemia with use of (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose ((18)F-FDG) micro positron emission tomography (microPET). Method. Middle cerebral artery occlusion was used to establish cerebral ischemia. Rats were divided into 5 groups: sham operation, cerebral ischemia-reperfusion untreated (CIRU) group, Scu-25 group (Scu 25 mg/kg/d), Scu-50 group (Scu 50 mg/kg/d), and nimodipine (10 mg/Kg/d). The treatment groups were given for 2 weeks. The therapeutic effects in terms of cerebral infarct volume, neurological deficit scores, and cerebral glucose metabolism were evaluated. Levels of vascular density factor (vWF), glial marker (GFAP), and mature neuronal marker (NeuN) were assessed by immunohistochemistry. Results. The neurological deficit scores were significantly decreased in the Scu-50 group compared to the CIRU group (P < 0.001). (18)F-FDG accumulation in the ipsilateral cerebral infarction increased steadily over time in Scu-50 group compared with CIRU group (P < 0.01) and Scu-25 group (P < 0.01). Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated Scu-50 enhanced neuronal maturation. Conclusion. (18)F-FDG microPET imaging demonstrated metabolic recovery after Scu-50 treatment in the rat model of cerebral ischemia. The neuroprotective effects of Scu on cerebral ischemic injury might be associated with increased regional glucose activity and neuronal maturation.