What question did this study set out to answer?

The research aims to determine the long-term neuroprotective effects of docosanoid mediators NPD1 and RvD1 after experimental stroke.

February 2, 2026

Abstract DP095: Combinatory Treatment by Docosanoid Mediators Provides Long-Lasting Neuroprotection by Targeting Pro-Homeostatic Microglial and Astrocyte Genes After Experimental Stroke

Key Points

The research aims to determine the long-term neuroprotective effects of docosanoid mediators NPD1 and RvD1 after experimental stroke.
Male SD rats underwent MCAo for 2 hours under anesthesia.
Animals were treated with intravenous NPD1 and RvD1 or vehicle post-MCAo.
Behavioral assessments were conducted at multiple time points over 28 days.
Post-treatment, brain tissue was analyzed for gene expression and lesions using MRI.
Behavioral scores improved significantly with treatment over the 28-day period by up to 50%.
NPD1+RvD1 significantly reduced lesions in the cortex and subcortex compared to vehicle treatment.
Transcriptomic analysis revealed regulation of genes associated with microglial and astrocyte function.

Abstract

Objective: This study focuses on the neuroprotective bioactivity of docosanoid mediators Neuroprotectin D1 (NPD1) and Resolvin D1 (RvD1) and their combination in experimental stroke. These lipid mediators are biosynthesized “on-demand” in response to stroke onset to restore homeostasis and functional integrity to resolve neuroinflammation. Recently, we have shown that NPD1+RvD1 improved behavior when they were allowed to survive for 7 days after a stroke. This study established whether neuroprotection induced by NPD1+RvD1 persists with chronic survival. In addition, we investigated whether the administration of NPD1+RvD1 affects the expression of microglia and astrocyte-specific genes. Methods: Male SD rats were anesthetized with isoflurane/nitrous oxide and received 2h of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo) by intraluminal suture. Behavior was evaluated at 60 min, and on days 1, 2, 3, 7, 14, 21, and 28, a grading scale of 0-12 was employed. Rats were treated with intravenous NPD1 (222 µg/kg at 3h) and RvD1 (222 µg/kg at 3.15h) or vehicle (n=6-8 group) after the onset of MCAo. Thirty days after MCAo, rats were perfused with 4% paraformaldehyde, and an ex vivo brain MRI was conducted using 11.7 T MRI. Molecular targets of NPD1 and RvD1 are defined at 24 h after MCAo. Results: Physiological variables were stable and showed no significant differences between groups. Combinatory treatment improved behavioral scores on days 1, 2, 3, 7, 14, 21, and 28 by 32, 35, 39, 40, 46, 48, and 50% compared to the vehicle group. NPD1+RvD1 significantly reduced lesions (computed from T2WI) in the cortex (0.4% vs. 5.1%), subcortex (0.2% vs. 1.5%), and total lesion (0.6% vs. 6.5%) compared to the vehicle group, respectively. Transcriptomic analysis revealed differentially regulated genes by NPD1+RvD1 at 24h after treatment. We uncovered that protection after MCAo by the lipid mediators elicits expression of microglia and astrocyte-specific genes ( Tmem119, Fcrls, Osmr, Msr1, Cd68, Cd163, Amigo2, Thbs1, and Tm4sf1 ). Conclusion: Our results indicate that NPD1+RvD1 exerts potent, long-term neuroprotection in the model of focal cerebral ischemia in rats. Uncovered genes enhance homeostatic microglia, modulate neuroinflammation, activate NPC differentiation, maturation, and synapse integrity, and contribute to cell survival. Our findings strengthen the notion that combinatory therapy is a potentially valuable avenues for acute stroke.

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