Protective Effects of Imipramine on Focal Cerebral Ischemia-reperfusion Injury by Antioxidation in Rats

Objective:To study the protective effects of Imipramine(Imi) on H2O contents,SOD and MDA in rats following focal cerebral ischemia and reperfusion.Methods: Sixty healthy Wistar rats(280-320 g) were randomly divided into 4 groups: A(sham-operated group);B(ischemic group);C (small-dose Imi treatment group);D(high-dose Imi treatment group).The model of middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO) and reperfusion was made.Imi of 10 and 20 mg/kg was respectively intraperitoneally injected into the rats 1 h before focal cerebral ischemia.The infarct volume was measured by TTC staining.The levels of H2O contents,SOD and MDA were measured.Results: The levels of H2O contents in groups C and D were significantly lower than in group B(P0.01) and those in group D were lower than in group C(P0.05).The levels of SOD in groups C and D were significantly higher than in group B(P0.01) and those in group C were higher than in group C(P0.05).The levels of MDA in groups C and D were significantly lower than in group B(P0.01) and those in group D were lower than in group C(P0.05).The infarct volume in groups C and D was significantly less than in group B(P0.01) and that in group C was less than in group C(P0.05).Conclusion: Imi can decrease the production of free radicals and infarct volume following cerebral ischemia and reperfusion in a dose-dependent manner.