Reduced inflammatory response under candesartan pre-treatment following transient focal ischemia in rats

Large clinical studies have shown that AT1 receptor blockers (ARBs) reduce the incidence of stroke in patients at risk. However, there is controversy about the underlying pathomechanisms. To get a closer insight into the effects of ARBs in stroke on molecular level, gene expression pattern was compared in the ischemic brain areas of Candesartan pre-treated (0,2 mg/kg bwt., 5 days, s.c.) versus vehicle treated, normotensive, adult rats after middle carotid artery occlusion (MCAO). Candesartan significantly improved neurological outcome (as estimated by Garcia-scale) 24 h and 48 h after stroke and reduced infarct volume by about 40% compared to vehicle. Keywords: disease state analysis For gene expression profiling, RNA of two animals per group was pooled and forwarded to preparation of the labeled targets for the micro array experiment. For each biological condition two independent pools were hybridised onto Affymetrix RAE 230A arrays.