Chemical preconditioning-induced reactive astrocytosis contributes to the reduction of post-ischemic edema through aquaporin-4 downregulation

►Reactive astrocytosis can be induced by 3NP preconditioning. ►3NP is a mitochondrial toxin, which can induce tolerance to ischemia. ►3NP preconditioning downregulates AQP4 expression with reactive astrocytosis. ►AQP4 downregulation is also associated with post-ischemic brain edema relief. ►3NP may be one of AQP4 downregulator with attenuating post-ischemic edema.