LAUSR

Introduction: In recent studies conducted by our lab, acute administration of chlorpromazine and promethazine (C+P) in ischemic stroke has been shown, through the induction of a metabolically-slowed, hibernation-like state, to reduce infarct size and neurological deficit, and thus to exert a neuroprotective effect on infracted subjects. Although its mechanism has not been fully elucidated, this effect is associated with alterations in the expression of protein kinase C-δ (PKC-δ) and Akt. Because PKC-δ and Akt are also known to be involved in the regulation of apoptotic cell death after ischemic stroke, we hypothesized that treatment with C+P would result in reductions in post-ischemic apoptosis. Additionally, because the neuroprotective effect of C+P is associated with reductions in NADPH oxidase (NOX) expression and activity, and because of the involvement of NOX in the PKC-Akt apoptotic pathway, we hypothesized that adding a NOX inhibitor would potentiate the anti-apoptotic effect of C+P. Methods: 8mg/k...