Protective effect of a new nonpeptidyl mimetic of SOD, M40401, against focal cerebral ischemia in the rat

Abstract We tested the neuroprotective effects of M40401, a new, low molecular weight (511.4 Da) maganese superoxide dismutase mimetic, against 90 min of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in male Wistar rats. Animals received a single injection of vehicle ( n =8), 1 mg/kg ( n =6), or 3 mg/kg ( n =7) 30 min before MCAO. Total lesion volume was reduced only in the group receiving 3 mg/kg M40401 (163.5±18.7 versus 43.4±7.0 mm 3 , for vehicle and M40401, respectively; P