Attenuation of edema and infarct volume following focal cerebral ischemia by early but not delayed administration of a novel small molecule KDR kinase inhibitor.

Abstract Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) may mediate increases in vascular permeability and hence plasma extravasation and edema following cerebral ischemia. To better define the role of VEGF in edema, we examined the effectiveness of a novel small molecule KDR kinase inhibitor Compound-1 in reducing edema and infarct volume following focal cerebral ischemia in studies utilizing treatment regimens initiated both pre- and post-ischemia, and with study durations of 24–72 h. Rats were subjected to 90 min of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) followed by reperfusion. Pretreatment with Compound-1 (40 mg/kg p.o.) starting 0.5 h before occlusion significantly reduced infarct volume at 72 h post-MCAO (vehicle, 194.1 ± 22.9 mm 3 vs. Compound-1, 127.6 ± 22.8 mm 3 and positive control MK-801, 104.4 ± 22.6 mm 3 , both p p