transformation is an important complication of acute ischemic stroke, particularly in diabetic patients receiving thrombolytic treatment with tissue plasminogen activator, the only approved drug for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke. The objective of the present study was to determine the effects of acute manipulation of potential targets for vascular protection [i.e., NF-B, peroxynitrite, and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs)] on vascular injury and functional outcome in a diabetic model of cerebral ischemia. Ischemia was induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion in control and type 2 diabetic Goto-Kakizaki rats. Treatment groups received a single dose of the peroxynitrite decomposition catalyst 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-sulfonatophenyl)prophyrinato iron (III), the nonspecific NF-B inhibitor curcumin, or the broadspectrum MMP inhibitor minocycline at reperfusion. Poststroke infarct volume, edema, hemorrhage, neurological deficits, and MMP-9 activity were evaluated. All acute treatments reduced MMP-9 and hemorrhagic transformation in diabetic groups. In addition, acute curcumin and minocycline therapy reduced edema in these animals. Improved neurological function was observed in varying degrees with treatment, as indicated by beam-walk performance, modified Bederson scores, and grip strength; however, infarct size was similar to untreated diabetic animals. In control animals, all treatments reduced MMP-9 activity, yet bleeding was not improved. Neuroprotection was only conferred by curcumin and minocycline. Uncovering the underlying mechanisms contributing to the success of acute therapy in diabetes will advance tailored stroke therapies. minocycline; curcumin; 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-sulfonatophenyl)prophyrinato iron (III); nuclear factor-B; vascular protection WITHIN THE NEXT DECADE, the number of individuals living with diabetes is expected to rise dramatically (8). By 2030, the estimated global prevalence of the disease will exceed 437 million (53), and the vascular damage sustained during the course of the disease will increase the likelihood that these affected individuals will develop micro-and macrovascular complications, including acute ischemic stroke (AIS) (41). Historically, individuals 65 yr and older are disproportionately affected, but for the first time ever, there is an alarming increase in the number of Americans who are diagnosed at a younger age and face a prolonged course of diabetes (46). This trend poses a serious problem because recent findings suggest that the risk of AIS increases 3% with each year of diabetes and triples after 10 yr (5). In addition, diabetes complicates ischemic injury, leading to increased morbidity and poor functional recovery (7), but how diabetes worsens ischemic stroke is not fully delineated. Understanding these subtleties is essential in identifying targets for neurovascular protection and for developing therapeutic strategies tailored to this burgeoning at-risk population.In a series of studies, we showed that there is extensive cerebrovascular remodeling and ...