Cilostazol inhibits platelet-endothelial cell interaction in murine microvessels after transient bilateral common carotid artery occlusion.

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of cilostazol on platelet behavior (rolling and adhesion) in murine cerebral microvessels after transient bilateral carotid artery occlusion using intravital fluorescence microscopy.

METHODS

We used 41 C57BL/6J mice for the experiment. Fourteen mice were used as sham group (no ischemia and reperfusion, no medication); an ischemia (induced by 15-minute occlusion of bilateral common carotid arteries) and reperfusion (I/R) group (n = 17); and an I/R + cilostazol (I/R + CZ) group (receiving 30 mg/kg of cilostazol orally at 30 minutes before ischemia) (n = 10). A cranial window was prepared in the right parietal region. Platelets obtained from donor mice were labeled with a fluorescent dye (carboxyfluorescein iodoacetate succinimidyl ester) in vitro. Labeled platelets were intravenously administered at 3 or 6 hours after reperfusion, and then platelet behavior (rolling and adhesion) in the brain microvessels was observed. The numbers of rolling and adhering platelets in the arteriole and venule were calculated.

RESULTS

Numbers of rolling and adherent platelets at 3 and 6 hours after reperfusion were significantly higher in the I/R group than in the sham or I/R + CZ groups in both venule (P < .05) and arteriole (P < .05).

CONCLUSIONS

Cilostazol inhibits platelet-endothelial interactions following cerebral ischemia and reperfusion.