Edaravone Exerts Brain Protective Function by Reducing the Expression of AQP4, APP and Aβ Proteins

This study aims to investigate the changes of aquaporin-4 (AQP4), β-amyloid precursor proteins (APP) and β-amyloid (Aβ) in brain tissues after cerebral ischemiareperfusion injury (CIRI), and evaluate the effect of edaravone. The Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion was used to establish CIRI in rats. Rats were divided into control, model and edaravone groups. The neurological deficits in the model group were obvious and the neurological score increased compared to the control group, while the neurological deficits of the edaravone group were improved as the neurological score decreased compared to the model group. The number of pyramidel cells in the hippocampus of the model group was significantly decreased whereas edaravone could reverse this decrease. The model group had significantly higher levels of Aβ, APP and AQP4 than the control group and edaravone group, suggesting that they might be involved in the neuronal cell damage. Meanwhile, the increased AQP4 might enhance the permeability of cells, and thus cause cell damage and neurological deficit. Conclusively, edaravone could reduce brain edema, protect neuronal cells and improve the neurological impairment of rats possibly by decreasing the expression of Aβ, APP and AQP4. Therefore, edaravone may have the potential to treat neurodegenerative diseases (such as Alzheimer's disease).