Calcitriol protects the Blood-Brain Barrier integrity against ischemic stroke and reduces vasogenic brain edema via antioxidant and antiapoptotic actions in rats

摘要

Background: Vasogenic brain edema is the most important complication of ischemic stroke that aggravates primary brain injury. Ischemia-Reperfusion (IR)-induced Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB) impairment limits the use of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (r-tPA) by increasing the possibility of hemorrhagic transformation and contributing to vasogenic edema and neuroinflammation. This study examined the effects of post-ischemic treatment with calcitriol on cerebral infarction, vasogenic edema formation and BBB disruption in a rat model of ischemic stroke.