Poly-arginine-18 peptides do not exacerbate bleeding, or improve functional outcomes following collagenase-induced intracerebral hemorrhage in the rat.

Background: Cationic arginine-rich peptides (CARPs) have demonstrated neuroprotective and/or behavioural efficacy in ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke and traumatic brain injury models. Therefore, in this study we investigated the safety and neuroprotective efficacy of the CARPs poly-arginine-18 (R18; 18-mer of arginine) and its D-enantiomer R18D given in the acute bleeding phase in an intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) model.

Methods: One hundred and fifty-eight male Sprague-Dawley rats received collagenase-induced ICH.