Correlation between myeloperoxidase-quantified neutrophil accumulation and ischemic brain injury in the rat:Effects of neutrophil depletion

Abstract

Background and Purpose Neutrophils have been implicated in the pathogenesis of ischemia-reperfusion injury. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the correlation between neutrophil infiltration into ischemic tissues and brain injury after transient focal ischemia. Methods We evaluated the effects of depletion of circulating neutrophils by administration of an antineutrophil monoclonal antibody (RP3) on brain edema formation, infarct size, and neutrophil infiltration (myeloperoxidase [MPO]-quanti-fied) in rats with 1 hour of middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion. Results In the cerebral cortex perfused by the anterior cerebral artery (ACA area), there was a significant increase in MPO activity only 24 hours (P