AIM: To examine the effect of adiponectin administration on acute brain injury in an experimental model of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) in rats.

MATERIAL and METHODS: The study animals were divided into the following four groups: group I, sham (did not undergo surgical intervention and did not receive drugs); group II, the I/R model (received the intervention, but did not receive drugs); group III (I/R-adiponectin)(the I/R model was used, and the animals were treated with 5 mg/kg adiponectin peritoneally 30 minutes after the ischemia); and group IV (I/R-tirofiban)(the I/R model was used, and the animals were treated with 0.5 mg/kg tirofiban peritoneally 30 minutes after the ischemia).

RESULTS: Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin (IL)-1β levels were statistically higher in the I/R group (group II) than in other groups. In the post-hoc (Tukey) test analysis, groups I, III, and IV had significantly lower TNF-α and IL-1β levels after treatment with both tirofiban and adiponectin than group II. No statistically significant difference was found between groups III and IV in terms of TNF-α levels. However, the decreased IL-1β level was more pronounced in group IV (tirofiban) than in other groups. The mean neurologic deficit scores were statistically significantly different among the groups. In the post-hoc (Tukey) test analysis, neurologic deficit scores were statistically significantly lower in groups III and IV than in group II.

CONCLUSION: Adiponectin has anti-inflammatory and cerebral protective effects in experimental cerebral I/R injury.