PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - María Santos-Galdiano
AU  - Diego Pérez-Rodríguez
AU  - Berta Anuncibay-Soto
AU  - Enrique Font-Belmonte
AU  - Irene F. Ugidos
AU  - Carlos César Pérez-García
AU  - Arsenio Fernández-López
TI  - Celecoxib Treatment Improves Neurologic Deficit and Reduces Selective Neuronal Loss and Glial Response in Rats after Transient Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion
AID  - 10.1124/jpet.118.251264
DP  - 2018 Dec 01
TA  - Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
PG  - 528--542
VI  - 367
IP  - 3
4099  - http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/367/3/528.short
4100  - http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/367/3/528.full
SO  - J Pharmacol Exp Ther2018 Dec 01; 367
AB  - Areas of selective neuronal loss (SNL) represent the first morphologic signs of damage in the penumbra region and are considered putative targets for ischemic stroke therapy. We performed a novel assessment of measuring the effects of the anti-inflammatory agent celecoxib by analyzing simultaneously the different neural populations (neurons, astrocytes, and microglia cells) in SNL and non-SNL areas. Rats were subjected to 1 hour of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) and treated with celecoxib 1 and 24 hours after ischemia. Infarct volume measurements and triple immunostaining of neurons (neuronal nuclear antigen), microglia (ionized calcium-binding adaptor molecule 1), and astroglia were performed after 12 and 48 hours of reperfusion. Motor response was tested by standard behavioral assays at 3, 12, 24, and 48 hours. Confocal analysis revealed that the percentage of SNL areas, microglia densities, and glial activation increased at 48 hours of reperfusion. Celecoxib treatment improved the neurologic deficit, reduced the infarct volume by 50% after 48 hours of reperfusion, and resulted in a reduced percentage of SNL areas and microglia and astroglia reactivity after 48 hours of reperfusion. This study proves, for the first time, that celecoxib presents postischemic neuroprotective effects in a transient MCAO model, prevents or delays the presence of SNL areas, and reduces glial activation.