亚低温联合镁剂对脑缺血再灌注大鼠保护作用的研究

目的:rt-PA溶栓为缺血性卒中最有效的治疗方法,脑血流再通后挽救濒临死亡的神经细胞同时,也可能发生更为严重而持久的脑缺血再灌注损伤。本研究探讨联合应用局部亚低温(32-35℃)及硫酸镁对局灶性脑缺血再灌注大鼠的保护作用及其可能机制。方法:通过线栓法建立大鼠大脑中动脉阻塞(MCAO)及再通模型,将50只雄性Wistar大鼠随机分为假手术组、常温组、亚低温组、硫酸镁组、亚低温+硫酸镁组,每组10例,采用Longa神经功能评分、TTC染色、干湿重法、TUNEL技术,检测和比较各组脑缺血再灌注后大鼠的神经功能、脑梗死体积、脑组织含水量及凋亡细胞数。结果:与常温组相比,亚低温组与亚低温+硫酸镁组的梗死体积、神经功能评分、脑组织含水量、凋亡细胞数均明显降低,差异有显著意义(P0.05);而与亚低温组相比,亚低温+硫酸镁组局灶脑缺血大鼠的脑梗死体积、神经功能评分、脑组织含水量、凋亡细胞数均显著减少,差异有显著意义(P0.05)。结论:与单独应用亚低温相比,局部亚低温与硫酸镁联合应用,对局灶性脑缺血再灌注大鼠可发挥更有效的脑保护作用。其机制可能与抑制脑缺血再灌注后凋亡及减轻脑水肿有关。二者联用可能为缺血性卒中患者提供一种减轻溶栓后再灌注损伤的有效脑保护方法。     

甘草查尔酮A对局灶性脑缺血再灌注小鼠Nrf2/HO-1信号通路和神经炎症反应的影响

目的:探讨甘草查尔酮A对局灶性脑缺血再灌注小鼠Nrf2/HO-1信号通路和神经炎症反应的影响。方法:体重23~25 g的雄性C57BL/6小鼠总计96只,随机分为4组(n=24):假手术对照组(Sham组)、脑缺血再灌注组(MCAO组)、溶剂组(Vehicle组)、甘草查尔酮A组(LA组)。采用大脑中动脉栓塞(MCAO)模型致大鼠脑缺血损伤。72 h后行神经功能学评分,2,3,5-三苯基氯化铵(TTC)染色检测脑梗死体积,Western blot法检测脑Nrf2、HO-1、TNF-α、IL-6蛋白表达水平,TUNEL染色法检测凋亡细胞数。结果:与Sham组比较,MCAO组和Vehicle组小鼠神经功能评分明显降低(P0.05),脑梗死体积显著增加(P0.05),而核蛋白Nrf2和胞浆蛋白HO-1蛋白表达水平较低(P0.05),炎症因子IL-6和TNF-α表达水平明显增加(P0.05),脑实质炎性细胞浸润显著增多(P0.05);与MCAO组和Vehicle组比较,LA组小鼠神经功能评分明显增加(P0.05),脑梗死体积显著减少(P0.05),而核蛋白Nrf2和胞浆蛋白HO-1蛋白表达水平更高(P0.05),炎症因子IL-6和TNF-α表达水平明显减少(P0.05),脑实质炎性细胞浸润明显减少(P0.05)。结论:甘草查尔酮A可缓解脑缺血再灌注损伤后出现的神经炎症反应及细胞凋亡,进而减轻神经功能障碍和脑梗死体积,其机制可能与激活Nrf2/HO-1信号通路相关。     

ATP敏感性钾通道开放剂对脑缺血再灌注损伤的保护作用

目的探讨ATP敏感性钾通道开放剂对大鼠局灶性脑缺血再灌注损伤的保护作用。方法40只Wistar雄性大鼠随机分为四组:A组(假手术组)、B组(缺血组)、C组(KATP开放剂治疗组)及D组(KATP开放剂 阻断剂治疗组)。应用线栓法制备大鼠大脑中动脉缺血模型(MCAO),应用TUNEL法检测神经元凋亡,应用免疫组化方法检测Caspase-3蛋白表达,并观察脑梗死体积及神经功能缺损评分。结果(1)C组脑梗死体积显著小于B、D组(P<0.01),B、D组之间无显著性差异(P>0.05);(2)C组神经功能缺损程度较B、D组显著减轻(P<0.05),B、D组之间无显著性差异(P>0.05);(3)C组神经元凋亡数较B、D组显著减少(P<0.01),B、D组之间无显著性差异(P>0.05);(4)C组Caspase-3蛋白表达显著少于B、D组(P<0.01),B、D组之间无显著性差异(P>0.05)。结论KATP通道开放剂能显著减轻脑缺血再灌注后脑梗死体积、改善神经功能缺损程度、减少Caspase-3蛋白表达、抑制神经元凋亡,对脑缺血再灌注损伤发挥保护作用。     

大豆异黄酮基于RhoA/ROCK2信号通路改善MCAO大鼠神经功能损伤

目的:探讨大豆异黄酮对脑缺血再灌注大鼠RhoA/ROCK2信号通路介导的氧化应激反应和神经元凋亡的影响。方法:60只SD大鼠随机分为3组,对照组、模型组、大豆异黄酮组。连续给药7天后,给药剂量200 mg/kg。应用中动脉栓塞再灌注模型致大鼠缺血损伤。24 h后评价大鼠神经功能,TTC染色检测脑梗死体积,试剂盒检测脑中氧化因子含量,免疫组化检测神经元损伤,Western Blotting检测RhoA/ROCK2相关蛋白含量。结果:与对照组比较,模型组大鼠神经功能评分降低(P0.05),脑梗死体积增加(P0.05),氧化因子含量增加(P0.05),神经元凋亡显著(P0.05),RhoA/ROCK2蛋白表达增加(P0.05)。与模型组相比,大豆异黄酮升高了大鼠神经功能评分(P0.05),减少的脑梗死体积(P0.05),降低脑中氧化因子含量(P0.05),抑制了神经元凋亡(P0.05),抑制了RhoA/ROCK2蛋白表达(P0.05)。结论:大豆异黄酮可以缓解脑缺血再灌注损伤介导的氧化应激及细胞凋亡,进而减轻神经功能障碍,其机制可能与抑制RhoA/ROCK2信号通路相关。     

产前应激对成年子代大鼠缺血性卒中后细胞凋亡的影响

目的:研究产前应激对雄性子代大鼠大脑中动脉缺血/再灌注后神经功能的影响。方法:SD孕鼠随机进行产前应激处理(孕期每日3次限制活动)和无产前应激处理,并对其雄性子代大鼠采用线栓法制备大脑中动脉局灶性脑缺血(MCAO)模型,共分为假手术组、产前应激+假手术组、MCAO模型组、产前应激+MCAO组(n=10)。于再灌注24 h后进行神经功能评分,并检测脑梗死面积、神经细胞凋亡情况和凋亡相关蛋白表达。结果:产前应激+MCAO组子代大鼠神经功能评分、脑梗死面积百分比、TUNEL阳性细胞、半胱氨酸天冬氨酸蛋白酶3(Caspase3)和活化的Caspase 3蛋白表达均较MCAO组显著增加(P0.05),而B淋巴细胞瘤-2(Bcl-2)蛋白表达较MCAO组减少(P0.05)。结论:产前应激可能通过促进子代大鼠脑缺血/再灌注后神经细胞凋亡,加重神经功能缺损。     

厄贝沙坦对局灶脑缺血作用的实验研究

目的：研究1型血管紧张素Ⅱ受体阻滞剂厄贝沙坦对局灶性脑缺血的神经保护作用及其可能的细胞机制。方法：在激光多谱勒脑血流监测仪对局部脑血流的监测下,应用线栓法建立大鼠大脑中动脉阻塞模型。药物经侧脑室内微泵持续灌注雄性正常血压大鼠,术后行神经功能评分,测定梗死体积,并运用免疫组化染色观察活性Caspase-3及其下游多聚ADP-核糖聚合酶（PARP）p85裂解片断的改变,结合TUNEL,比较各组细胞凋亡情况。结果：厄贝沙坦明显改善大鼠的神经功能评分,第7d的梗死体积较对照组减少了42％,用药后缺血区的TUNEL阳性细胞数．荧光标记的活性Caspase-3以及PARP p85裂解片断表达均明显减少。结论：厄贝沙坦可改善局灶脑缺血的神经功能,抑制细胞凋亡可能是其神经保护机制之一。     

UCF-101对大鼠局灶性脑缺血再灌注后JNK和ERK活性的影响

目的:探讨UCF-101对局灶性脑缺血再灌注大鼠脑内c-Jun氨基末端激酶(JNK)和胞外信号调节酶(ERK)活性的影响,进一步探讨UCF-101对局灶性脑缺血再灌注损伤脑保护作用的机制。方法:采用大脑中动脉线栓法(MCAO)建立大鼠局灶性脑缺血再灌注模型,随机分为假手术组,缺血再灌注组,UCF组,应用TTC检测大鼠脑梗死体积,TUNEL法检测神经元凋亡,Western blot检测ERK和JNK的活性。结果:UCF-101可下调脑缺血再灌注大鼠脑组织JNK蛋白的活性,上调ERK蛋白的活性,并降低梗死体积、坏死和凋亡细胞数。结论:UCF-101对大鼠局灶性脑缺血再灌注损伤有保护作用,抑制JNK凋亡通路、促进ERK生存通路,从而减轻细胞凋亡是其脑保护机制之一。     

早期跑步运动对大鼠脑缺血/再灌注损伤后神经行为与神经元凋亡的影响

目的: 探讨早期跑步运动对大鼠脑缺血后神经行为与神经元凋亡的影响。方法:雄性SD大鼠随机分为4组:假手术+安静组(Sham-St、假手术+运动组(Sham-Ex)、缺血(大脑中动脉闭塞(MCAO) +运动组((MCAO -Ex)和缺血+安静组(MCAO-St),每组15只。MCAO-Ex 和 MCAO-St 组大鼠行MCAO 60 min,再灌注2 d后,MCAO-Ex 和Sham-Ex大鼠在跑步机上进行5 d的30 min/d跑步运动(15 m/min),之后进行神经行为学评价,最后大鼠断头取脑进行TTC方法染色,评估各组大鼠梗死体积以及缺血半影Caspase-3和TUNEL阳性细胞表达水平。结果:与Sham-St相比,MCAO-St和MCAO-Ex大鼠缺血半影区Caspase-3表达均显著升高 (P＜0.05);与MCAO-St 组大鼠相比,MCAO-Ex组大鼠脑梗死体积明显减少,大鼠神经功能评分明显改善,大鼠缺血半影区Caspase-3和TUNEL阳性细胞表达水平显著降低 (P＜0.05)。结论: 早期运动可能通过抑制大鼠脑缺血后神经元凋亡发挥神经保护作用。     

骨髓间充质干细胞移植对大鼠脑缺血再灌注损伤Livin和Caspase-3表达的影响

目的探讨骨髓间充质干细胞（BMSCs）移植对大鼠脑缺血再灌注损伤海马区凋亡相关基因Livin和Caspase-3表达及神经元细胞凋亡的影响。方法实验动物分为假手术组、模型组和BMSCs组,进行神经功能评分,应用TTC法检测脑梗死体积,追踪PKH26标记的移植BMSCs,应用免疫组化方法和Western blot检测Livin、Caspase-3蛋白表达,应用TUNEL法检测细胞凋亡。结果 PKH26标记的BMSCs在海马区有表达。与模型组比较,BMSCs组神经功能评分显著降低（P〈0.05）,脑梗死体积显著减少（P〈0.05）。BMSCs组与模型组相比Livin蛋白表达显著增高（P〈0.05）,Caspase-3蛋白表达明显下降（P〈0.05）,神经元细胞凋亡指数显著降低（P〈0.05）。结论 BMSCs对脑缺血再灌注损伤具有保护作用,其作用机制可能与上调Livin表达,下调Caspase-3表达,抑制细胞凋亡有关。     

促红细胞生成素对大鼠局灶性脑缺血再灌注神经元的保护作用及P53蛋白的表达

目的:探讨促红细胞生成素(Epo)对大鼠局灶性脑缺血再灌注神经细胞的保护作用.方法:60只SD大鼠随机分为缺血再灌注Epo治疗组(又分为高剂量A组、低剂量B组)、缺血再灌注组(C组)及假手术组(D组),采用大脑中动脉线栓法制备大鼠局灶性脑缺血再灌注模型.参考Longa的5分制法在大鼠麻醉清醒后进行评分,TTC染色法观察线栓侧的梗死体积,并检测脑组织含水量的变化,HE染色法观察脑缺血再灌注后脑组织的病理变化,TUNEL法观察神经细胞凋亡情况,western blot法观察p53蛋白的表达变化.结果:对照组比较,大鼠脑缺血再灌注后出现不同程度的脑梗死,24h后缺血中心区及周围区均可见到p53蛋白表达.缺血再灌注6h内给予Epo可显著改善大鼠神经功能评分,减少梗死体积及脑组织含水量,减轻病理学变化及神经细胞凋亡.结论:Epo通过调控神经细胞凋亡、改善缺血再灌注损伤而发挥脑保护作用,P53蛋白参与缺血再灌注后神经细胞凋亡机制.     

缺血后处理对大鼠局灶性脑缺血再灌注损伤时TLR4 信号通路表达的影响

目的:观察缺血后处理对大鼠局灶性脑缺血再灌注损伤后TLR4通路表达的影响。方法:成年健康雄性SD大鼠110只,随机分为假手术组(sham组)(n=10)、缺血再灌注组(I/R组)和后处理组(IP组),后两组又依据缺血再灌注6h、12h、24h、48h、72h不同的时间点再分五个亚组。对各组行神经行为学评分,脑组织梗死体积测量,TUNEL技术检测神经细胞凋亡的情况,免疫组织化学技术观察各组大鼠脑组织TLR4、NF-κB和TNF-α蛋白的表达,原位杂交方法检测各组大鼠脑组织TLR4mRNA、NF-κBmRNA的表达。结果:缺血后处理可下调TLR4、NF-κB、TNF-α细胞炎性因子的表达,抑制细胞凋亡、减少脑梗死体积,改善神经行为。结论:后处理可通过抑制TLR4信号通路表达,减少脑梗死体积,改善神经功能。     

白藜芦醇对大鼠局灶性脑缺血再灌注的治疗作用

目的:观察白藜芦醇对大鼠局灶性脑缺血再灌注损伤的治疗作用及可能的机制。方法:将SD大鼠随机分为2组:对照组(n=16),白藜芦醇组(n=16)。对照组再灌注即刻腹腔给予0.5 ml生理盐水,白藜芦醇组再灌注即刻腹腔给予20 mg/kg白藜芦醇。再灌注22小时后,进行神经功能学评分、脑梗死容积测定,用分光光度仪测定脑组织溶浆中SOD、MDA和MPO的含量。结果:再灌注22小时后,白藜芦醇治疗组可以改善大鼠神经功能学评分和降低脑梗死面积(P<0.05),同时可以增加脑组织溶浆中SOD的活性,降低MDA和MPO的含量。结论:白藜芦醇通过减轻白细胞的浸润、提高自由基的清除率对大鼠局灶性脑缺血再灌注损伤发挥治疗作用。     

缺血后处理对大鼠局灶性脑缺血再灌注损伤时TLR4信号通路表达的影响

目的：观察缺血后处理对大鼠局灶性脑缺血再灌注损伤后TLR4通路表达的影响。方法：成年健康雄性SD大鼠110只,随机分为假手术组（sham组）（n=10）、缺血再灌注组（I／R组）和后处理组（IP组）,后两组又依据缺血再灌注6h、12h、24h、48h、72h不同的时间点再分五个亚组。对各组行神经行为学评分,脑组织梗死体积测量,TUNEL技术检测神经细胞凋亡的情况,免疫组织化学技术观察各组大鼠脑组织TLR4、NF—KB和TNF—a蛋白的表达,原位杂交方法检测各组大鼠脑组织TLR4mRNA、NF-KBmRNA的表达。结果：缺血后处理可下调TLR4、NF-KB、TNF-a细胞炎性因子的表达,抑制细胞凋亡、减少脑梗死体积,改善神经行为。结论：后处理可通过抑制TLR4信号通路表达,减少脑梗死体积,改善神经功能。     

Curcumin Improves Outcomes and Attenuates Focal Cerebral Ischemic Injury via Antiapoptotic Mechanisms in Rats

Curcumin, a member of the curcuminoid family of compounds, is a yellow colored phenolic pigment obtained from the powdered rhizome of C. longa Linn. Recent studies have demonstrated that curcumin has protective effects against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury. However, little is known about its mechanism. In the present study, we tested the effects of curcumin in focal cerebral ischemia in rats and the possible mechanisms. Adult male Sprague–Dawley rats were treated with curcumin (100, 300 and 500 mg/kg) administered intraperitoneally after 60 min of occlusion (beginning of reperfusion). Neurological score and infarct volume were assessed at 24 and 72 h. Oxidative stress was evaluated by malondialdehyde assay and the apoptotic mechanisms were studied by Western blotting. Curcumin treatment significantly reduced infarct volume and improved neurological scores at different time points compared with the vehicle-treated group. Curcumin treatment decreased malondialdehyde levels, cytochrome c, and cleaved caspase 3 expression and increased mitochondrial Bcl-2 expression. Inhibition of oxidative stress with curcumin treatment improves outcomes after focal cerebral ischemia. This neuroprotective effect is likely exerted by antiapoptotic mechanisms.     

Pharmacological correction of hypothermic P(50) shift does not alter outcome from focal cerebral ischemia in rats

Hypothermia decreases the arterial PO(2) at which hemoglobin is 50% saturated (P(50)), increasing hemoglobin O(2)-binding affinity. We used RSR13, a synthetic allosteric modifier of hemoglobin that increases P(50), to study the role of altered hemoglobin O(2)-binding affinity in mild hypothermic neuroprotection. RSR13 (150 mg/kg iv) restored P(50) to normothermic values. Rats underwent 70 min of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) at 30.0, 34.0, or 37.5 degrees C with hemoglobin saturation held at 98-100%. The 34.0 degrees C group received RSR13 or vehicle before ischemia. After 7 days of recovery, infarct volumes were reduced in all hypothermic groups, without evidence of a detrimental effect on infarct size or neurological score as a result of P(50) correction. To examine for a beneficial effect of P(50) correction, ischemia duration was increased to 120 min in rats maintained at 34.0 degrees C. Correction of P(50) by RSR13 did not alter cerebral infarct sizes or neurological scores. The decrease in P(50), caused by mild hypothermia, could not be associated with infarct size or neurological deficit resulting from ischemic brain hypoxia in rats.     

Ucf-101对大鼠局灶性脑缺血再灌注后Caspase-3蛋白表达的影响

目的观察Ucf—101对大鼠脑缺血再灌注后神经元caspase-3蛋白表达及细胞凋亡的影响,研究其对缺血性脑损伤是否具有保护作用。方法将36只雄性WiStar大鼠随机分为3组：假手术组、缺血组及Ucf—101组,采用线栓法建立大鼠右侧大脑中动脉闭塞（middle cerebral artery occlusion,MCAO）2h再灌注模型,于再灌注后6h和24h断头取脑,采用TTC法测梗死体积,TUNEL法原位标记DNA片段,检测TUNEL阳性细胞的变化,免疫组化法观察脑皮质神经元caspase-3的表达。结果脑缺血再灌注后不同时间点（6h、24h）,Ucf-101组与缺血组相比梗死体积明显缩小,有显著性差异（P〈0．05）;假手术组未见梗死现象。缺血组TUNEL阳性细胞数较假手术组明显增多（P〈0．05）,脑皮质caspase-3的表达较假手术组亦显著增强（P〈0．05）,给予Ucf-101处理后,TUNEL阳性细胞数较缺血组明显减少（P〈0．05）,caspase-3的表达较缺血组亦明显减弱（P〈0．05）。结论Ucf-101能有效地抑制脑缺血再灌注损伤,下调脑皮质神经元Caspase-3蛋白的表达,抑制神经元的凋亡,发挥神经保护作用。     

Ghrelin reduces cerebral ischemic injury in rats by reducing M1 microglia/macrophages

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Ghrelin on the polarization of microglia/ macrophages after cerebral ischemia (CI) in rats. 60 wild-type SD rats were randomly divided into sham group, CI group, CI+Ghrelin group, 20 rats in each group. The modified Longa suture method was used to establish the middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model in rats. Before surgery, Ghrelin was injected subcutaneously (100 μg/kg, twice a day) for 4 consecutive weeks. After modeling, neurological function scores were performed with three behavioral experiments: mNSS score, Corner test, and Rotarod test, to evaluate the recovery of neurological function after Ghrelin treatment. At the same time, the brain tissues were collected and stained with 2,3,5- triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) to detect the cerebral infarct volume. RT-qPCR was used to detect the expression of TNF-α and IL-1β in the ischemic brain tissue, and the TUNEL staining was used to detect the apoptosis of brain tissue. Flow cytometry was used to detect the percentage of M1 type microglia/macrophages which were isolated by trypsin digestion of fresh cerebral cortex. Then, the Western blotting and immunofluorescence method were used to detect the phosphorylation level of AKT (P-AKT) and AKT. Compared with the CI group, the neurological function of the rats in the CI+Ghrelin group was dramatically improved, and the cerebral infarction area was dramatically reduced. At the same time, the expression of TNF-α and IL-1β in the ischemic brain tissue of rats in the CI+Ghrelin group decreased, and the apoptotic cells in the brain tissue also decreased. Compared with the CI treatment group, the activation of M1 microglia/macrophages in the cortex of the ischemic side of the infarct and the peri-infarct area in the CI+Ghrelin group was dramatically inhibited. At the same time, the ratio of P-AKT/AKT of the brain tissue in the CI+Ghrelin group was dramatically higher than that of the CI group. In the rat cerebral ischemia model, Ghrelin can promote the repair of brain damage and the recovery of neurological function after ischemia. Its mechanism may be related to activating AKT to selectively reduce M1 microglia/macrophages, reducing inflammation and cell apoptosis in brain tissue.Key words: Cerebral ischemia, ghrelin, microglia/macrophage     

PI3K/Akt 通路在电针预处理诱导脑缺血耐受中的机制研究

目的:通过观察电针预处理对磷脂酰肌醇3激酶/蛋白质丝氨酸苏氨酸激酶(PI3K/Akt)通路的变化以及该通路抑制剂对电针预处理的脑保护的影响,探讨电针预处理诱导脑缺血耐受的可能机制。方法:线栓法单侧阻断大脑中动脉120min,再灌注24h制备大鼠大脑局灶性缺血再灌注(I/R)模型;Western Blot检测Akt磷酸化水平的变化;侧脑室注射PI3K/Akt通路抑制剂LY294002;神经行为学评分(Garcia标准)及TTC染色检测脑梗死体积比评价脑损伤程度。结果:电针预处理使大鼠神经行为学评分增高,脑梗死体积比降低(P<0.05);可上调Akt磷酸化水平,I/R2h达高峰(P<0.05)。侧脑室注射PI3K/Akt抑制剂LY294002,拮抗电针预处理的脑保护作用(P<0.05)。结论:电针预处理增加Ak(tSer473)磷酸化水平,在缺血再灌注早期上调PI3K/Akt通路可能是诱导大鼠脑缺血耐受的产生的主要机制。     

High-soy diet decreases infarct size after permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion in female rats

Estrogen is a powerful neuroprotective agent in rodent models of ischemic stroke. However, in humans, estrogen treatment can increase risk of stroke. Health risks associated with hormone replacement have led many women to consider alternative therapies including high-soy diets or supplements containing soy isoflavones, which act as estrogen receptor ligands to selectively mimic some of estrogen's actions. We hypothesized that a high-soy diet would share the neuroprotective actions of estrogen in focal cerebral ischemia. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were ovariectomized and divided into three groups: isoflavone-free diet + placebo (IF-P), isoflavone-free diet + estradiol (IF-E), or high-soy diet + placebo (S-P). Two weeks after being placed on diets, rats underwent left permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Reductions in ipsilateral cerebral blood flow were equivalent across groups ( approximately 50%). Twenty-four hours later neurological deficit was determined, and brains were collected for assay of cerebral infarct by TTC staining. In the IF-P rats MCAO produced a 50 +/- 4% cerebral infarct. Estrogen and high-soy diet both significantly reduced the size of the infarcts to 26 +/- 5% in IF-E rats and to 37 +/- 5% in S-P rats. Analysis at five rostro-caudal levels revealed that estrogen treatment was slightly more effective at reducing infarct size than high soy diet. Overall neurological deficit scores at 24 h correlated with infarct size; however, there were no statistically significant differences among the treatment groups. These data show that 2 wk of a high-soy diet is an effective prophylactic strategy for reducing stroke size in a rat model of focal cerebral ischemia.