Objective      To investigate the effect of neurogenic neuroprotection conferred by cerebellar fastigial nucleus stimulation (FNS) and the role of PPARγ-mediated inflammation in a rat model of cerebral ischemia reperfusion.       Methods      After a continuous 1-hour fastigial nucleus electric stimulation

the male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were immediately given middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) for 1

3

6

9

12 and 15 h (n=5 for each time point) undergoing reperfusion with intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA)

while the control group (n=30) received no FNS. After 72 h of reperfusion

the neurological deficits were evaluated. The brain tissue in ischemic penumbra was harvested to determine the myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity by a spectrophotometer

and the expression of PPARγ was measured by Western blotting and RT-PCR.       Results      FNS group had improved neurological deficits compared with the control group. The expression level of PPARγ was increased gradually with reperfusion time

and reached the peak after 9 hours’ reperfusion

and its mRNA and protein levels were obviously higher than each control group after 3

6

9

12 and 15 hours’ reperfusion (P0.05). The MPO activity was also significantly higher in 6

12 and 15 h after reperfusion in the FNS group than control group (P0.05).       Conclusion      FNS exerts neuroprotective effects and prolongs the therapeutic time window in rat cerebral ischemia/reperfusion

which might be related to the PPARγ-mediated inflammation in penumbral region.