Protective effect of serofendic acid on ischemic injury induced by occlusion of the middle cerebral artery in rats

We previously reported that a sulfur-containing neuroprotective substance named serofendic acid purified and isolated from fetal calf serum prevented glutamate neurotoxicity in rat cortical cultured neurons. In the present study, we investigated the effect of serofendic acid on ischemic injury induced by a transient occlusion of the middle cerebral artery in rats. Serofendic acid was intracerebroventricularly administered 30 min after the onset of the occlusion. Serofendic acid (30 nmol) significantly reduced total infarct volume, similar to edaravone (30 nmol), a free radical scavenger. Treatment with serofendic acid (1–30 nmol) reduced the infarct volume in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, serofendic acid (30 nmol) improved neurological deficit scores. These results suggest that intracerebroventricular administration of serofendic acid prevents the neurodegeneration induced by a transient focal cerebral ischemia and reperfusion.