MRI monitoring of focal cerebral ischemia in peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor (PPAR)‐deficient mice

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are a potential target for neuroprotection in focal ischemic stroke. These nuclear receptors have major effects in lipid metabolism, but they are also involved in inflammatory processes. Three PPAR isotypes have been identified: α, β (or δ) and γ. The development of PPAR transgenic mice offers a promising tool for prospective therapeutic studies. This study used MRI to assess the role of PPARα and PPARβ in the development of stroke. Permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion induced focal ischemia in wild-type, PPARα-null mice and PPARβ-null mice. T2-weighted MRI was performed with a 7 T MRI scan on day 0, 1, 3, 7 and 14 to monitor lesion growth in the various genotypes. General Linear Model statistical analysis found a significant difference in lesion volume between wild-type and PPAR-null mice for both α and β isotypes. These data validate high-resolution MRI for monitoring cerebral ischemic lesions, and confirm the neuroprotective role of PPARα and PPARβ in the brain. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.