J Neurol Res

Journal of Neurology Research, ISSN 1923-2845 print, 1923-2853 online, Open Access

Article copyright, the authors; Journal compilation copyright, J Neurol Res and Elmer Press Inc

Journal website http://www.neurores.org

Original Article

Volume 2, Number 4, August 2012, pages 127-133

Effects of a PDGFR-a Antagonist Imatinib on Blood-Brain Barrier Disruption in Focal Cerebral Ischemia in Younger and Older Rats

Figures

Figure 1. The blood-to-tissue transfer coefficient equation.

Figure 2. Transfer coefficient (K_i) of the experimental groups one and a half hour after middle cerebral artery occlusion. YC: younger control rats. YI: younger imatinib treated rats. OC: older control rats. OI: older imatinib treated rats. IC: Ischemic cortex. CC: Contralateral cortex. Data are Means ± SD. * Significantly different from the YC. † Significantly different from the corresponding CC.

Figure 3. Volume of dextran distribution of the experimental groups one and a half hours after middle cerebral artery occlusion. YC: younger control rats. YI: younger imatinib treated rats. OC: older control rats. OI: older imatinib treated rats. IC: Ischemic cortex. CC: Contralateral cortex. Data are Means ± SD. †Significantly different from the corresponding CC.

Figure 4. Protein levels of the PDGRF-asubunit probed with a specific antibody measured by Western blotting. Tubulin was used as the control. The cortices from three young (Y) and three old (O) Fischer 344 rats are shown. The protein levels of the PDGFR-a subunit were similar between the younger and the older rats.

Table

**Table 1.** Hemodynamic Parameters for Experimental Groups One and a Half Hours After Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion
Group	Younger		Older
Group	Control (n = 7)	Imatinib (n = 7)	Control (n = 7)	Imatinib (n = 7)
BP: Blood Pressure. Values are means ± SD.
Systolic BP (mmHg)	106 ± 16	107 ± 23	96 ± 13	102 ± 36
Diastolic BP (mmHg)	70 ± 11	66 ± 15	58 ± 11	65 ± 25
Mean BP (mmHg)	82 ± 12	80 ± 16	71 ± 12	78 ± 27
Heart Rate (beats/min)	282 ± 39	305 ± 52	245 ± 57	271 ± 39
pH	7.38 ± 0.04	7.33 ± 0.10	7.34 ± 0.10	7.31 ± 0.07
PaCO₂ (mmHg)	38 ± 6	33 ± 8	34 ± 6	32 ± 5
PaO₂ (mmHg)	122 ± 20	118 ± 14	105 ± 21	107 ± 13
Hemoglobin (g/100 mL)	11.8 ± 1.6	11.3 ± 1.4	11.4 ± 3.8	10.7 ± 2.5