Acute ethanol treatment reduces blood–brain barrier dysfunction following ischemia/reperfusion injury

Abstract Background and purpose Ethanol has been shown to provide neuroprotective effects, but the precise mechanisms by which these effects occur have yet to be investigated. In this study, we investigate blood–brain barrier (BBB) and edema level changes in association with expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2 and MMP-9) and aquaporins (AQP-4 and AQP-9) in ethanol treated rats following middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion. Methods An ischemic stroke model was generated by occlusion of the right MCA for 2 h in male Sprague–Dawley rats (n = 72). Edema levels and BBB integrity following the ischemic event were studied by quantification of brain water content and extravasation of Evans blue following 24 and 48 h of reperfusion, respectively. Expression of the proteins MMP-2 and MMP-9, as well as AQP-4 and AQP-9, were determined by Western blot analysis 3 and 24 h after reperfusion. Results Treatment with ethanol significantly reduced brain edema ( P P P Conclusions Ethanol ameliorates brain edema and BBB disruption after stroke, in association with a reduction in the expression of MMPs and AQPs. These results provide clues to ethanol's neuroprotective properties.