AR and brain ischemia: This study demonstrates that the AR inhibitor epalrestat has a BBB-protecting function, epalrestat up regulates mTOR phosphorylation through AR/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway, inhibits apoptosis and autophagy of endothelial cells, and maintains the expression level of TJ protein in endothelial cells after cerebral ischemia to protects BBB (Fig. 7).