Effects of sulforaphane on inflammation of focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats

Objective:To explore the protective effects of sulforaphane(SFN)on inflammation of focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats and its possible mechanism.Methods:Middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO)was induced by intraluminal suture.Five mg/kg SFN was administrated intraperitoneally at 60 min after MCAO.At 24 h after reperfusion,neurologic deficiency scores were detected and the infarct volume was evaluated by TTC staining.Myeloperoxidase(MPO)activities in rat brain were measured as an index of neutrophil infiltration.Expressions of nuclear factor-κB(NF-κB),tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)and interleukin-6(IL-6) in rat brain were determined by Western blot.Results:Neurological deficiency scores((2.49±0.48)vs.(1.34±0.62),P=0.000)were significantly improved,infarcted volume was diminished((0.41±0.02)% vs.(0.26±0.03)%,P=0.000)and activity of MPO in cerebral tissues((0.43±0.02)U/g vs.(0.35±0.02)U/g,P=0.000)was decreased in 5 mg/kg SFN group than in MCAO group.Results of Western blot showed that SFN could also decrease the expression of NF-κB,TNF-α and IL-6 compared with those in MCAO group((0.39±0.05)vs.(1.65±0.05),P=0.000;(0.30±0.05)vs.(0.91±0.03),P=0.000;(0.49±0.11)vs.(1.50±0.03),P=0.000).Conclusions:SFN exerts the neuroprotective effect on cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats through inhibiting the inflammatory response,which may be associated with the inhibition of NF-κB,TNF-α and IL-6 expression.