Failure of probucol to prolong survival in salt-loaded stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats

We examined the effect of probucol, a lipid-lowering agent with strong antioxidant properties, on neurological events and survival in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP). Rapid onset of stroke was induced by maintaining the animals on 1% NaCl solution in place of drinking water. Probucol (10 or 30 mg/kg/day), both of which doses are therapeutic in humans was given by gastric gavage once daily to salt-loaded SHRSP. Animals receiving vehicle were used as controls. Probucol did not influence the elevation of blood pressure. Although probucol did not improve the survival rate of salt-loaded SHRSP, 30 mg/ kg/day of probucol slightly but significantly delayed the development of neurological events (p=0.0235 by generalized Wilcoxon test). However, a high dose of probucol (100 mg/kg/day) did not change the survival or neurological events of salt-loaded SHRSP. These results suggest that probucol may be protective against the development of neurological events, but is not preventive for the progression of stroke in SHRSP.