Several clinical studies show that plasma adiponectin levels were lower in subjects with ischemic stroke than in the controls. However, the involvement of adiponectin in cerebrovascular disease has not been clarified experimentally. In this study, we examined the effect of voluntary exercise on plasma adiponectin concentration and that of the administration of adiponectin on the progression of stroke in rats with spontaneous stroke. Five-week-old male malignant stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (M-SHRSP) were housed individually for 7 weeks in standard cages with or without a running wheel. The plasma adiponectin levels at post-stroke were significantly lower than that at prestroke in sedentary animals. Voluntary exercise delayed stroke-onset and maintained concentration of plasma adiponectin at the pre-stroke level. On the other hand, the administration of recombinant adiponectin did not affect the progression of stroke in post-stroke animals. Adiponectin may have the preventive effect on the onset of stroke, but it does not have the therapeutic effect on the progression of stroke.

DESCENTE SPORTS SCIENCE Vol.31/THE DESCENTE AND ISHIMOTO MEMORIAL FOUNDATION FOR THE PROMOTION SPORTS SCIENCE