Despite being the predominant subtype in the CNS [11], data regarding the neuroprotective efficacy of PPARδ agonists are limited compared to PPARα or PPARγ agonists. This likely reflects the fact that PPARδ-specific agonists and antagonists have only recently become available. Several studies have used the synthetic PPARδ-specific agonists L-165041, L-160,043, GW0742, or GW501516 to explore the functional activities of the receptor [12–15]. Recent studies assessing the neuroprotective efficacy of synthetic PPARδ agonists indicate that they may ameliorate clinical symptoms and reduce the severity of a variety of acute and chronic CNS pathologies, in large part, by modulation of oxidative stress and inflammatory responses associated with the diseases. Recent reports suggest that PPARδ may have additional protective effects against the progression of CNS disorders, such as promoting cell survival [12, 13, 16]. To date, the neuroprotective benefits of PPARδ agonists have been observed in models of stroke, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, radiation-induced brain injury, and spinal cord injury [12, 17–23].
