Resveratrol Treatment Attenuates Focal Cerebral Ischaemic Injury in Rats by Activating the Sirt1/Gpx4 Pathway to Inhibit Ferroptosis

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the neuroprotective effects of resveratrol (RSV) against ferroptosis in a rat model of cerebral ischaemia.
Methods: Photochemical embolisation was used to generate focal cerebral ischemic injury in Sprague-Dawley rats. The modified neurological severity score system and adhesive removal experiment were used to evaluate neurological deficits) in model rats. Cerebral infarction volume was determined using TTC staining. Commercially available glutathione (GSH), iron ion, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and malondialdehyde (MDA) kits were used to detect ferroptosis. Western blot was used to detect the expression of the ferroptosis-related proteins Sirt1 and Gpx4.
Results: We found in a rat model of focal cerebral ischaemia that RSV treatment could significantly alleviate the neurological deficit score, reduce the adhesive removal time, reduce cerebral infarct area, reduce brain water content, and alleviate the neurological damage caused by cerebral ischaemia. Meanwhile, RSV treatment can significantly restore GSH and iron ion levels, reduce ROS and MDA levels, and activate the expression of the ferroptosis-related proteins Sirt1 and Gpx4.
Conclusion: RSV improved neurological deficits, reduced the area of cerebral infarction, and alleviated neuronal damage. This protective effect may be achieved by upregulation of Sirt1 and Gpx4 protein expression to alleviate damage caused by ferroptosis.