Administration of selective endothelin receptor type A antagonist Ro 61- 1790 does not improve outcome in focal cerebral ischemia in cat

The authors examined the effect of selective endothelin (ET) receptor type A (ET(A)) antagonism on histological and functional recovery in cat at 24 hours after reversible middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). A novel and specific ET(A) antagonist, Ro 61-1790 [5-methylpyridine-2-sulfonic acid- 6-(2-hydroxyethoxy)-5-(2-methoxyphenoxy)-2-(2-1H-tetrazol-5-yl-pyridin-4-yl)- pyrimidin-4-ylamide sodium salt (1:2)] (Roche, Basel, Switzerland), was used at doses that produced steady-state plasma concentrations and abolished ET- induced pial arteriolar vasoconstriction. In a cranial window preparation, 8 nmol/L ET constricted pial arterioles by 33 ± 18% (mean ± SD), but this response was ablated by intravenous Ro 61-1790 treatment (10-mg/kg bolus, 4- mg/kg/h infusion). In additional animal cohorts, halothane-anesthetized cats were treated with 90 minutes of MCAO and 24 hours of reperfusion. Animals received Ro 61-1790 infusion beginning at the onset of reperfusion and continuing for 6 or 24 hours (n = 41). Control cats were treated with 0.9% saline by intravenous infusion throughout reperfusion. There was no difference in injury volume or neurologic evaluation score in saline-treated cats (n = 11; caudate 24 ± 28%, cortical injury 7.5 ± 5% of ipsilateral structure; score 52 ± 8) versus the results in cats treated with Ro 61-1790 for either 24 hours (n = 6; caudate 22 ± 23%, cortex 6 ± 5%, injury volume of ipsilateral structure; score 55 ± 3) or 6 hours (n = 11; caudate 33 ± 30%, cortex 12 ± 14%, injury volume of ipsilateral structure; score 50 ± 10). Mortality was greatest in the 24-hour drug treatment group. These data suggest that blockade of ET(A) receptor activity is not beneficial to tissue or functional outcomes from experimental stroke in cat.