Assessment of dose-effect and therapeutic time window in preclinical studies of rhEGF and GHRP-6 coadministration for stroke therapy

作者:Subiros Nelvys*; Perez Saad Hector M; Berlanga Jorge A; Aldana Lizet; Garcia Illera Gerardo; Gibson Claire L; Garcia del Barco Diana
来源:Neurological Research, 2016, 38(3): 187-195.
DOI:10.1179/1743132815Y.0000000089

摘要

Background: Stroke continues to be a leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide, and novel therapeutic options for ischaemic stroke are urgently needed. In this context, drug combination therapies seem to be a viable approach, which has not been fully explored in preclinical studies. Objectives: In this work, we assessed the dose-response relationship and therapeutic time window, in global brain ischaemia, of a combined therapeutic approach of recombinant human epidermal growth factor (EGF) and growth hormone-releasing peptide-6 (GHRP-6). Methods: Mongolian gerbils underwent 15 minutes occlusion of both common carotid arteries. Four different doses of rhEGF, GHRP-6 and these combined agents were intraperitoneally administered immediately after the onset of reperfusion. Having identified a better response with both agents, rhEGF+GHRP-6 were administered at 2, 4, 6, 8 or 24 hours after the onset of reperfusion to assess the time window of effectiveness. Animals were evaluated daily for neurological deficits. Three days post-occlusion, the animals were sacrificed and 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride was used to quantify infarcted tissues. Results: The coadministration of rhEGF and GHRP-6 at doses of 100 and 600 mu g/kg, respectively, administered up to 4 hours following the ischaemic insult, significantly improved survival and neurological outcome, and reduced infarct volume compared with vehicle treatment. These results are considered as an additional proof of concept as supporting a combined therapeutic approach and justify the further development of this preclinical research.

  • 出版日期2016