Figure 1.

Systemic (s.c.) administration of leptin at the dose of 1 mg/kg, 3 h before the induction of ischemia, significantly reduces the brain infarct volume produced by 24 h permanent MCAo. By contrast, the same dose of leptin, administered 6 h or immediately before MCAo produces values of infarct volume comparable to those observed in vehicle-treated animals (a). ^##P<0.01 versus vehicle (one-way ANOVA followed by Dunnett's post-hoc test; n=5–6 rats per experimental group). (b) Representative TTC-stained brain slices and (c) corresponding values of infarct areas from rats subjected to 24 h permanent MCAo and treated (s.c.) with vehicle (PBS, 1 ml/kg) or leptin (1 mg/kg) 3 h before the induction of ischemia. Ischemic brain damage (pale area) involves the brain regions supplied by the middle cerebral artery, including the striatum and the cortex. Administration of leptin reduces ischemic brain damage in perifocal regions such as the medial caudate–putamen and the motor cortex. ^*P<0.05 and ^**P<0.01 versus corresponding brain section of vehicle-treated animals (Student's t test, n=6 rats per experimental group)