Diabetes is an independent risk factor for ischemic stroke. Large randomized trials
have shown that aspirin reduces stroke risks in patients with diabetes. However, there
was no study that reported whether aspirin could attenuate the cerebral ischemic injury
when administered prior to cerebral ischemia in diabetes. The objective of the present
study was to evaluate the effects of aspirin on focal cerebral ischemia in diabetic
rats. Diabetic rats received an oral administration of aspirin for 7 d prior to be
subjected to a permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). The infarct volume
of the brain was assessed in brain slices stained with 2% solution of triphenyltetrazolium
chloride. Behavioral tests were used to evaluate the damage to the central nervous
system. Platelet aggregation induced by adenosine diphosphate was measured. The results
showed that aspirin at a dose of 30 mg/kg but not 10 mg/kg significantly reduced infarct
volume and decreased neurological deficit scores compared with vehicle treatment.
Aspirin (30 mg/kg) treatment also reduced platelet aggregation. Administration of
aspirin did not alter the levels of blood glucose and insulin in diabetic rats. The
findings suggest that pretreatment with aspirin may be effective to attenuate cerebral
ischemic injury in diabetic patients.
aspirin - diabetes - cerebral ischemia
