Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 Is Neuroprotective in Aged Rats With Ischemic Stroke.

Post-stroke systemic injections of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) exert neuroprotective effects in rats. In the current study, we aimed to test the efficacy of IGF-1 neuroprotection in aged rats (24-25 months old) and to compare the results with adult rats (6-7 months old). Furthermore, we addressed putative differences in microglial responses to IGF-1 in adult and aged rats.

Neuroprotection by Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 in Rats with Ischemic Stroke is Associated with Microglial Changes and a Reduction in Neuroinflammation.

We and others have shown that insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) is neuroprotective when administered systemically shortly following stroke. In the current study, we addressed the hypothesis that microglia mediate neuroprotection by IGF-1 following ischemic stroke. Furthermore, we investigated whether IGF-1 modulates pro- and anti-inflammatory mediators in ischemic brain with a special reference to microglia.