ATR-FTIR spectroscopy to evaluate serum protein expression in a murine cerebral ischemia model

Stroke is a prevalent vascular disease that causes disability and death worldwide. Molecular techniques have been developed to assess serum concentrations of biomarkers associated with this disease, such as some proteins. ATRFTIR was proposed as an alternative technique to determine protein expression during the early stages of stroke. Serum samples from sham, ischemic, and ischemic treated with estradiol benzoate (EB; as a neuroprotective agent) male rats were evaluated at 0, 2-, 4-, 6-, 12-, and 24-hours post-ischemia. The analysis was developed in the midinfrared region but mainly focused on the protein region (1500-1700 cm(- 1)), where it was possible to observe the modulation in the absorbance intensity. The peaks at 1545, 1645, 1635, and 1650 cm(-1) associated with amide II, amide I, beta-sheets, and alpha-helixes, respectively, were prominent peaks where protein modulation was observed. The results demonstrate that infrared spectroscopy could be a good alternative technique to determine the modulation of protein expression during stroke events.