Suppressive effect of E-64c on ischemic degradation of cerebral proteins following occlusion of the middle cerebral artery in rats

Abstract Microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2) levels in the left cerebral hemisphere decreased significantly 3 days after occlusion of the left middle cerebral artery in rats to29 ± 16.3% of control levels. Since MAP2 is one of the substrates of calpain, E-64c, a synthetic calpain inhibitor, was administered at a dose of 400 mg/kg twice a day for 3 days, with the first dose being given before the production of ischemia. This depletion was significantly inhibited in vivo by E-64c ( P