Neuroprotective effect through the cerebral sodium–glucose transporter on the development of ischemic damage in global ischemia

• Cerebral SGLT was activated by hyperglycemia after global ischemia.
• Cerebral SGLT was involved in the exacerbation of global ischemic neuronal damage.
• Global ischemic neuronal damage was suppressed by administration of phlorizin.

Diabetes mellitus and impaired glucose metabolism are the most important risk factors for stroke. We recently demonstrated that cerebral ischemic stress causes hyperglycemia (i.e., post-ischemic hyperglycemia) and may worsen ischemic neuronal damage in a mouse model of focal ischemia. However, the detailed mechanisms are still unknown. The sodium–glucose transporter (SGLT) generates inward currents in the process of transporting glucose into cells, resulting in depolarization and increased excitability, which is well known to be caused by cerebral ischemia. Hence, we focused on the role of SGLT on the development of neuronal damage using a global ischemic model.Male ddY mice were subjected to 30 min of bilateral carotid artery occlusion (BCAO). The neuronal damage was estimated by histological analysis using HE staining on day 3 after BCAO.Intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of phlorizin (a specific and competitive inhibitor of SGLT, 200 mg/kg immediately after reperfusion) suppressed the development of post-ischemic hyperglycemia on day 1 after BCAO. In contrast, intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration of phlorizin (40 μg/mouse immediately and 6 h after reperfusion) had no effect on day 1 after BCAO. Interestingly, the development of ischemic neuronal damage was significantly suppressed by i.p. and i.c.v. administration of phlorizin on day 3 after BCAO. In addition, BCAO-induced spasticity was significantly suppressed by PHZ (40 μg/mouse, i.c.v.) from using gait analysis.Our results indicated that cerebral SGLT was involved in the development of ischemic neuronal damage in global ischemia.