The phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitor, FCPR16, attenuates ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion.

•FCPR16 reduced brain damage following cerebral ischemic reperfusion.•FCPR16 suppressed inflammatory response following cerebral ischemic reperfusion.•FCPR16 reduced apoptosis and regulated apoptotic-related proteins.•The potential mechanisms of FCPR16 involved cAMP/CREB pathway.•FCPR16 did not cause emesis in beagle dogs.