AIM: To study miR-24 effects on cerebral infarction in rats.

MATERIAL and METHODS: A rat middle cerebral artery occlusion model (MCAO) was constructed. Intracerebroventricular stereotactic injection of miR-24 agomir/antagomir was performed in the rat MCAO model. According to different experiences, rats were divided into normal, sham, MCAO, miR-24 agomir and miR-24 antagomir groups. Serum TCH, HDL and TG levels were detected.

RESULTS: Comparingthe normal and sham groups, we observed decreased relative miR-24 expression (p<0.05) and increased cerebral infarction area percentage, apoptotic cells and relative caspase-3 protein expression (p<0.05) in theMCAO, miR-24 agomirand miR-24 antagomir groups. TC, TG and HDL-C levels of the MCAO and miR-24 antagomir groups were higher than those of normal and sham groups (p<0.05).Compared with the MCAO group, increased relative miR-24 expression (p<0.05) and decreased TC, TG and HDL-C levels,cerebral infarction area percentage, number of apoptotic cells and caspase-3 expression (p<0.05) were found in themiR-24 agomir group, contrasting with theobservations from the miR-24 antagomir group.

CONCLUSION: miR-24 reduced serum TCH, HDL and TG levels and inhibited brain tissue cell apoptosis in rats with cerebral infarction.