Treatment with a DPP-4 inhibitor, vildagliptin improved the expression of genes and proteins responsible for insulin secretion, indicating that DPP-inhibitors may affect glucose metabolism-related gene and protein expression (Akarte et al., 2012). To clarify whether brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels are affected by AGL, we also studied alterations in BDNF levels in the brain after chronic, prophylactic treatment with

AGL. BDNF, the most abundant neurotrophin in the brain, stimulates neural migration; promote neuronal differentiation; induce neurite outgrowth; enhance synapse formation, GSK126 price learning and memory, and neuronal survival; lower blood glucose levels; improve glucose/lipid metabolism, and reduce appetite and body weight (Yanamoto et al., 2000b, Yanamoto et al., 2004, Nakagawa et al., 2003 and Hofer and Barde, 1988). Increase in intracerebral BDNF levels, prior to the insult, induces tolerance to focal cerebral ischemia, and improve the functional outcome in rodent models of ischemic stroke (Nakajo et al., 2008, Galloway et al., 2008, Yanamoto et al., 2000a, Yanamoto et al., 2000b, Yanamoto et al., 2004 and Yanamoto et al., 2008). In contrast, a genetic decrease in BDNF

levels in the brain increased volumes of infarcted lesions and worsened learning and memory (Yamamoto et al., 2011). Interestingly, BDNF levels in the brain were decreased in a mouse model of DM-2, and neurons from these animals were more vulnerable against hypoxia in vitro, compared to normal neurons (Navaratna et al., 2011). No animal died before the evaluation of volumes of infarcted BKM120 research buy lesions in the acute and chronic phase studies. During the operation, the physiological parameters of mice were stable and regulated within the normal range. There were no significant RVX-208 differences in body temperature, heart rate and mean arterial blood pressure between vehicle- and the three different AGL-treated groups during the operative period (Table 1). No significant

differences were observed in body weight or blood glucose levels at the end of the treatment, with blood glucose levels of 170±22 mg/dL vs. 180±23 mg/dL in the vehicle- and AGL-treated groups respectively (p=0.234). Body weight was 23.5±1.1 g in the vehicle-treated vs.22.9±0.8 in the AGL-treated group (p=0.117). On analysis of the volumes of infarcted lesions, a significant reduction was observed in Group III (medium dose), as compared to group I (vehicle) (Fig. 1A and B). There was no significant difference in the edema index between the groups (data not shown). On assessment of neurological function in the acute phase (Fig. 1C), the SND score in group III was significantly smaller compared to group I (Mann–Whitney test), with no other differences. In the chronic phase, the volume of infarcted lesion in group II (medium dose) was significantly smaller compared with those in group I (vehicle) (Fig. 2A and B).