Propentofylline reduces glial scar development following gliotoxic damage in the rat brainstem

• Published in: Arquivos de neuro-psiquiatria Vol. 74; no. 9; pp. 730 - 736
• Main Authors: Bondan, Eduardo Fernandes, Martins, Maria de Fátima Monteiro, Dossa, Pietro Domingues, Viebig, Lígia Bocamino, Cardoso, Carolina Vieira, Martins, Júnior, João Lopes, Bernardi, Maria Martha
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Portuguese
• Published: Brazil Academia Brasileira de Neurologia - ABNEURO 01.09.2016; Academia Brasileira de Neurologia (ABNEURO)
• Subjects: Animals; astrocytes; Astrocytes - drug effects; Astrocytes - metabolism; Brain Stem - drug effects; Brain Stem - metabolism; Demyelinating Diseases - metabolism; Demyelinating Diseases - prevention & control; Disease Models, Animal; ethidium; Ethidium - toxicity; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein - analysis; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein - drug effects; gliosis; gliotoxin; Gliotoxin - toxicity; Immunohistochemistry; Male; Neuroprotective Agents - pharmacology; NEUROSCIENCES; PSYCHIATRY; Rats, Wistar; Reproducibility of Results; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome; xanthine; Xanthines - pharmacology; gliotoxin; astrócitos; ethidium; xanthine; etídio; gliotoxina; astrocytes; gliosis; gliose; xantina
• ISSN: 0004-282X; 1678-4227; 1678-4227; 0004-282X
• DOI: 10.1590/0004-282X20160108

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of propentofylline administration on astrocytic response following gliotoxic injury. Wistar rats were injected with ethidium bromide into the cisterna pontis and treated or not with propentofylline (12.5mg/kg/day, intraperitoneal) during the experimental period. Brainstem sections were collected from 15 to 31 days after gliotoxic injection and processed for GFAP immunohistochemistry. Results demonstrate that propentofylline decreased astrocytic activation until the 21st day, suggesting that this drug may have a role in reducing glial scar development following injury.