The membrane mesenchymal stem cell derived conditioned medium exerts neuroprotection against focal cerebral ischemia by targeting apoptosis

•Effects of the membrane mesenchymal stem cell derived conditioned medium on focal cerebral ischemia were evaluated.•Improvement of motor function and maintain of BBB integrity were observed in conditioned medium-treated rats.•Neuroprotective effects of conditioned medium might be related to targeting apoptosis. The mesenchymal stem cells derived from human amniotic membrane have the ability to secrete and release some factors that can promote the repair of damaged tissues. This secretome contains proteins and factors that reduce apoptosis and increase angiogenesis in the ischemia/reperfusion models. The present study was conducted to determine whether this secretome provides protection against transient focal cerebral ischemia. A rat model of focal cerebral ischemia was established through middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) for 60 min and 24 h reperfusion. The amniotic mesenchymal stem cells-conditioned medium (AMSC-CM) at the dose of 0.5 μl was injected intracerebroventriculary (ICV) 30 min after reperfusion. Infarct volume, brain edema, neurobehavioral functions, and blood brain barrier (BBB) integrity were assessed 24 h after reperfusion. Neuronal loss and expression of caspase-3, Bax and Bcl-2 in motor cortex were evaluated by nissl staining and immunohistochemistry assay respectively. ICV administration of AMSC-CM markedly reduced infarct volume, brain edema and the evans blue penetration rate compared with MCAO group (P