Combined tissue plasminogen activator and an NK1 tachykinin receptor antagonist: An effective treatment for reperfusion injury following acute ischemic stroke in rats

► tPA opens the blood-brain barrier in naïve animals. ► NAT reduces tPA-induced changes in BBB permeability in naïve and stroke animals. ► tPA-NAT treatment reduces functional deficits following stroke. ► NAT reduces tPA-associated mortality and hemorrhage. ► Inhibiting neurogenic inflammation may be a novel target to treat reperfusion injury.