This study demonstrates MB treatment minimizes ischemic brain injury and improves functional outcomes.ĭespite the tremendous efforts invested in ischemic stroke research, the ability to minimize infarct volume and neurological deficit remains extremely limited. Tracking tissue fate on a pixel-by-pixel basis showed that MB salvaged more initial core pixels compared to controls (22☓% versus 11☓%, P = 0.03), and more mismatch pixels compared to controls (83☓% versus 61☘%, P = 0.02). The final infarct volumes two days after stroke increased in the vehicle group but decreased in the MB group, yielding a 30% difference in infarct volume (P = 0.03).

The initial lesion volumes at 30 minutes post-ischemia were not significantly different between the two groups (P = 0.92).

In a randomized double-blinded design, vehicle or MB was administered after reperfusion. Rats were subjected to 60-minute middle-cerebral-artery occlusion. This study evaluated the efficacy of MB to treat ischemic stroke in rats using longitudinal MRI and behavioral measures. Methylene blue (MB) has unique energy-enhancing and antioxidant properties and is FDA-approved drug to treat methemoglobinemia and cyanide poisoning.

Cyanide poisoning methylene blue