Phenytoin affects metabolism of free fatty acids and nucleotides in rat cerebral ischemia

We investigated the effects of phenytoin on the rate of enzymatic release of free fatty acids and on the levels of energy metabolites and nucleoside phosphates in ischemic brain. Phenytoin (10 mg/kg i.v.) was administered 30 minutes before the onset of ischemia induced in 30 male Wistar rats by occluding the basilar and both common carotid arteries. The rats' brains were frozen in situ after 0, 5, or 30 minutes of ischemia or 10, 30, or 60 minutes of recirculation following 30 minutes of ischemia (n = 5 at each time). Nucleoside triphosphate levels were higher in the phenytoin-treated rats than in corresponding untreated rats at each time during and after ischemia. Phenytoin significantly attenuated the accumulation of lactate and free fatty acids (arachidonic acid and stearic acid) during ischemia and accelerated their recovery during recirculation. These results suggest that phenytoin has favorable protective effects on ischemic brain and that phenytoin may inhibit calcium-mediated phenomena, especially the inositol cycle, in cerebral ischemia.     

Degradation of phospholipid molecular species during experimental cerebral ischemia in rats

Previous investigators have shown that free fatty acids that accumulate during ischemia are an indicator of evolution in ischemic brain damage. Our study describes the temporal relations between free fatty acid accumulation and degradation of phospholipid molecular species after cerebral ischemia. Using the four-vessel occlusion model of adult Wistar rats, we analyzed quantitatively the cerebral phospholipid molecular species of diacyl phosphatidylcholine and diacyl phosphatidylethanolamine and released free fatty acids during ischemia. Total diacyl phosphatidylcholine molecular species decreased gradually but did not show any significant difference even at 60 minutes. By contrast, total diacyl phosphatidylethanolamine abruptly decreased after 5 minutes and continued to decrease significantly thereafter. Polyunsaturated molecular species showed a higher ratio of degradation than saturated and monounsaturated molecular species of either phosphatidylcholine or phosphatidylethanolamine. Total free fatty acid accumulated according to the time elapsed, and statistical significance was obtained after 10 minutes. Free arachidonic and docosahexaenoic acids were attributed to these significant accumulations at 10, 15, and 30 minutes. At 60 minutes, individual free fatty acids increased nonspecifically. Free fatty acids, which are hydrolyzed from phospholipid classes, are known to be further metabolized to bioactive substances such as prostaglandins and leukotrienes. Rapid degradation of phospholipid molecular species, especially of diacyl polyunsaturated molecular species, could be an important finding to membrane perturbation. Effective prevention of these changes might enhance tolerance to ischemic brain damage.     

Induction of brain edema following intracerebral injection of arachidonic acid

The effects of polyunsaturated fatty acids on brain edema formation have been studied in rats. Intracerebral injection of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), including linolenic acid (18:3) and arachidonic acid (20:4), caused significant increases in cerebral water and sodium content concomitant with decreases in potassium content and Na+- and K+- dependent adenosine triphosphatase activity. There was gross and microscopic evidence of edema. Saturated fatty acids and monounsaturated fatty acid were not effective in inducing brain edema. The [125I]-bovine serum albumin spaces increased twofold and threefold at 24 hours with 18:3 and 20:4, respectively, indicating vasogenic edema with increased permeability of brain endothelial cells. Staining of the brain was observed five minutes after injection of Evans blue dye followed by arachidonic acid perfusion. A major decrease in brain potassium content was evidence of concurrent cellular (cytotoxic) edema as well. The induction of brain edema by arachidonic acid was dose dependent and maximal between 24 and 48 hours after perfusion. Dexamethasone (10 mg/kg) was effective in ameliorating the brain edema, whereas a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, indomethacin (10 mg/kg), was not. These data indicate that arachidonic acid and other PUFAs have the ability to induce vasogenic and cellular brain edema and further support the hypothesis that the degradation of phospholipids and accumulation of PUFAs, particularly arachidonic acid, initiate the development of brain edema in various disease states.     

Protective effects of 4-(o-benzylphenoxy)-N-methylbutylamine hydrochloride (bifemelane) on acutely induced cerebral ischemia in Mongolian gerbils and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR)

Effects of new antihypoxic agent (bifemelane) on survival and brain metabolism were studied in acute cerebral ischemia induced by bilateral carotid artery ligation in mongolian gerbils and SHR. Either 10 mg/kg or 30 mg/kg body weight of bifemelane solved in distilled water was intraperitoneally administered 1 hr in gerbils and 1.5 hrs in SHR prior to carotid ligation, and same amount of vehicle was also given in similar manner for control animals. Brain tissue metabolites such as lactate, pyruvate and ATP were determined by using the enzymatic technique in the ischemic brain frozen in situ 1 hr after carotid ligations in SHR. Mean survival times following carotid ligations were 186 +/- 255 min (+/- SD) in control gerbils, 429 +/- 455 min in those with 10 mg/kg of bifemelane, and 310 +/- 429 min in those with 30 mg/kg respectively, its difference between control and 10 mg/kg group being significant (P less than 0.05). Supratentorial lactate concentrations in the ischemic brains of SHR were substantially the same among the groups, whereas ATP levels were 0.62 +/- 0.24 mM/kg in control animals, 1.10 +/- 0.67 mM/kg in rats with 10 mg/kg of the drug, and 1.13 +/- 0.42 mM/kg in those with 30 mg/kg, respectively. In animals with a high dose pretreatment, the reduction of ATP was significantly smaller than that in control (P less than 0.02), indicating that this agent prevents a decline of high energy phosphate in the ischemic brain although anaerobic metabolites increase similarly in animals of all experiment groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Comparison of the effects of bifemelane hydrochloride,idebenone and indeloxazine hydrochloride on ischemia-induced changes in brain monoamines and their metabolites in gerbils

Summary Bifemelane hydrochloride (bifemelane), idebenone and indeloxazine hydrochloride (indeloxazine) are used clinically to reduce apathy and other emotional disturbances in patients with cerebrovascular disease. In gerbil brains, ischemia affects many monoaminergic neurotransmitters and their metabolites. In the present study, the effects of treatment with bifemelane, idebenone and indeloxazine on ischemia-induced changes in monoamines and their metabolites were studied in ischemi gerbil brains. Although these drugs had no effect on the monoaminergic neurotransmitters or their metabolites in sham-operated animals, in the ischemi brains both dopamine and serotonin turnovers were abnormal after idebenone or indeloxazine treatment. Bifemelane, in contrast, tended to correct the ischemia-induced changes in the dopaminergic and serotonergic systems in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus and thalamus + midbrain. From the present results and those in previous reports, we conclude that bifemelane is more appropriate than idebenone or indeloxazine as a treatment for the ischemia-induced changes in monoaminergic neurotransmitter systems.     

LY178002 reduces rat brain damage after transient global forebrain ischemia

Several feasible mechanisms have been proposed as sources of neuronal damage from ischemia and subsequent reperfusion. Included among these are oxidative damage caused by free radical production and lipid peroxidation and products derived from phospholipid breakdown. A series of 4-thiazolidinone compounds represented by LY178002 (5-[3,5-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)-4-hydroxyphenyl]methylene-4-thiazolidinon e) have been described as inhibitors of multiple enzymes in the arachidonic acid cascade, including fatty acid cyclooxygenase, 5-lipoxygenase, and phospholipase A2. Accordingly, we evaluated LY178002 in a four-vessel occlusion model of global forebrain ischemia with reperfusion. A 2-hour pretreatment of 11 male Wistar rats with 150 mg/kg LY178002 significantly protected against striatal (p = 0.0007) and hippocampal CA1 (p = 0.006) damage after 30 minutes of global ischemia. Similar protection was observed for the striatum (p = 0.005) and hippocampal CA1 layer (p = 0.025) after pretreatment of 13 rats with 50 mg/kg LY178002. We further evaluated LY178002 as a possible inhibitor of lipid peroxidation because part of its chemical structure incorporates the aromatic backbone of the known antioxidant butylated hydroxytoluene. We found LY178002 to be a potent inhibitor of iron-dependent lipid peroxidation. Few substances possessing a single pharmacological activity have been found to be of significant therapeutic benefit in global ischemia of 30 minutes' duration because the mechanisms that lead to cell death in response to ischemia are likely to be multifactorial. Thus, the efficacy of LY178002 in this model may be due to its ability to inhibit multiple sources of damage.     

Effects of 4-(o-benzylphenoxy)-N-methylbutylamine hydrochloride (bifemelane) on deposition of calcium and magnesium in the central nervous system tissues of rats maintained on low-calcium diets]

Since the reduction of calcium (Ca) intake leads Ca and magnesium (Mg) to mobilize from their bone pool and to deposit Ca in the soft tissues, especially in the central nervous system (CNS) tissues, the effects of 4-(o-benzylphenoxy)-N-methylbutylamine hydrochloride (bifemelane) on the deposition of Ca and Mg in the CNS tissues, heart, liver, kidney, muscle, abdominal aorta and bones were studied in rats maintained on low-Ca diets. Thirty-two male, 7-week-old Wistar rats, randomly divided into four groups, each consisting of 8 rats, were maintained for 90 days on the following diets: (A) standard, (B) standard with bifemelane (10 mg/100 g diet), (C) low-Ca, and (D) low-Ca with bifemelane (10 mg/100 g diet). Neither the A-B groups' nor the C-D groups' blood chemistry changed. However, Mg concentration in the cerebellum showed higher values in the B group than in the A group (p less than 0.05). And Mg concentration in pons, cerebellum, spinal cord, heart, liver and femur of the D group increased more than that of the C group (p less than 0.05-0.01), as determined by inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometry (ICP). On the other hand, Ca concentration in the liver was less in the D group than that of the C group (p less than 0.05). In general bifemelane had a tendency to decrease Ca deposition in the CNS and soft tissues of B and D groups. Bifemelane may possibly participate in activating the cerebral metabolism and in keeping an adequate Mg level in the CNS and soft tissues.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Acute neurovascular unit protection by simvastatin in transient cerebral ischemia

Abstract

Acute vascular- and neuroprotective effects of simvastatin were evaluated in a rat model of transient, focal cerebral ischemia. Male, Wistar rats (n=12) underwent transient middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion for 3 hours followed by 3 hours of reperfusion. After 30 minutes of MCA occlusion, four rats each were subcutaneously injected with either 20 or 40 mg/kg of simvastatin. At the end of 3 hours of reperfusion, tissue injury and blood–brain barrier (BBB) opening were quantified by histology and [¹⁴C]-alpha-aminoisobutyric acid (AIB)-based quantitative autoradiography (QAR), respectively. Compared with untreated rats, those treated with simvastatin (20 mg/kg) had reduced volumes of AIB leakage, tissue pallor and distribution space for AIB (p<0.05). No additional effects were seen with the higher drug dose (40 mg/kg). These data suggest that the acute neuroprotective effects of statins are in part owing to attenuation of stroke-induced changes in BBB permeability.     

Effects of 4-(o-benzylphenoxy)-N-methylbutylamine hydrochloride (bifemelane) on the synthesis of acetylcholine in anemic hypoxia

Pretreatment of mice with 4-(o-benzylphenoxy)-N-methylbutylamine hydrochloride (bifemelane) protected against effects of anemic hypoxia. Befemelane delayed the loss of the righting reflex (from 17.8 +/- 1.3 to 21.9 +/- 1.2 min, p less than 0.05) and death (from 19.6 +/- 1.3 to 23.3 +/- 1.1, p less than 0.05) in mice with anemic hypoxia (induced with NaNO2). Pretreatment with bifemelane ameliorated the reduction in the synthesis of acetylcholine from labeled precursors in anemic hypoxia. Namely, it reduced the inhibition of acetylcholine synthesis from labeled choline (from 3.8 +/- 0.5 to 9.4 +/- 1.2 pmole/mg protein at 30 mg/kg, p less than 0.01), but not significant at 15 mg/kg. However it (15 mg/kg) caused a significant increase in the incorporation of [U-14C] glucose into acetylcholine compared to the value for hypoxic animals (from 5 +/- 0.5 to 9 +/- 1 dpm/mg protein, p less than 0.001). Under normal conditions, concentrations of acetylcholine and glucose in the brain were significantly increased by the 30 mg/kg of bifemelane, while the synthesis of acetylcholine from choline was significantly decreased. This reduction of synthesis might be caused by the increased acetylcholine concentrations in the brain. Fifteen mg/kg of bifemelane significantly increased the concentrations of glucose, 14C-acid soluble fraction and the synthesis of acetylcholine from [U-14C] glucose. In the in vitro experiments, cholinesterase activity was significantly inhibited by the bifemelane (1.47 microM). However, its inhibitory effects were about 1/9000 of physostigmine sulfate, which might be too weak to increase the acetylcholine concentration in the brain.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Acute neurovascular unit protection by simvastatin in transient cerebral ischemia

Acute vascular- and neuroprotective effects of simvastatin were evaluated in a rat model of transient, focal cerebral ischemia. Male, Wistar rats (n=12) underwent transient middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion for 3 hours followed by 3 hours of reperfusion. After 30 minutes of MCA occlusion, four rats each were subcutaneously injected with either 20 or 40 mg/kg of simvastatin. At the end of 3 hours of reperfusion, tissue injury and blood-brain barrier (BBB) opening were quantified by histology and [(14)C]-alpha-aminoisobutyric acid (AIB)-based quantitative autoradiography (QAR), respectively. Compared with untreated rats, those treated with simvastatin (20 mg/kg) had reduced volumes of AIB leakage, tissue pallor and distribution space for AIB (p<0.05). No additional effects were seen with the higher drug dose (40 mg/kg). These data suggest that the acute neuroprotective effects of statins are in part owing to attenuation of stroke-induced changes in BBB permeability.     

The influence of repeated doses, route and time of administration on the neuroprotective effects of BIII 277 CL in a rat model of focal cerebral ischemia.

Objective. We investigated the influence of dose, route and time of administration on the neuroprotective effects of the noncompetitive N-methyl-D-aspartic acid antagonist BIII 277 CL ([2R-[2alpha, 3(R*), 6alpha]]-1,2,3,4,5,6-hexahydro-3-(2-methoxy-propyl)-6,11,11-trimethyl-2,6-methao-3-benzazocin-9-ol hydrochloride). Methods. Focal cerebral ischemia was induced in isoflurane-anaesthetized Fischer rats by permanent occlusion of the left middle cerebral artery. Rats were treated with BIII 277 CL three times at doses of 1 and 3 mg/kg intraperitoneally (IP) (5 to 10 minutes and 4 and 24 hours after occlusion) or twice with 0.1, 0.3, and 1.0 mg/kg subcutaneously (SC) (5 to 10 minutes and 3 hours after occlusion) or twice with 1 mg/kg SC (30 minutes and 3 hours 30 minutes; 1 and 4 hours; 2 and 5 hours; or 4 and 7 hours after occlusion). Other rats received (+)MK-801 (dizocilpine) three times at doses of 0.3, 1.0, and 3.0 mg/kg IP (5 to 10 minutes and 4 and 24 hours after occlusion). Control rats received an equal volume of saline. Infarct volume was determined 48 hours after occlusion by standard histological techniques. Results. IP administration of BIII 277 CL caused a dose-dependent reduction of infarct volume (1 mg/kg, 13%; 3 mg/kg, 25%). (+)MK-801 had similar effects (0.3 mg/kg, 13%; 1.0 mg/kg, 21%; 3 mg/kg, 27%). BIII 277 CL also dose-dependently reduced the infarct volume after SC administration (0.1 mg/kg, 14%; 0.3 mg/kg, 30%; 1.0 mg/kg, 28%). Furthermore, significant neuroprotective effects of BIII 277 CL were observed even when initial treatment was delayed up to 1 hour after occlusion (30 minutes, 28%; 1 hour, 23%; 2 hours, 5%; 4 hours, 4%). Conclusions. These results indicate that BIII 277 CL shows significant neuroprotective effects at doses as low as 0.1 mg/kg SC. The effects after IP administration are comparable with those of (+)MK-801, and significant effects were observed even when the BIII 277 CL was first administered up to 1 hour after the beginning of ischemia.     

Effects of 4-(o-benzylphenoxy)-N-methylbutylamine hydrochloride (bifemelane) on ischemic cerebral edema induced in the gerbil

Effects of the new chemical agent, bifemelane, on ischemic cerebral edema were studied in 70 mongolian gerbils. Five different doses of bifemelane (0.2-25.0 mg/kg) as well as saline were administered intraperitoneally in 6 groups of animals (n = 46), and 30 min afterward both common carotid arteries were occluded. The brain was removed 90 min after the occlusion, and the cerebral water content (CWC) in the bifemelane treated groups and the controls was compared. To assess hemodynamic effects of bifemelane, regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) was also measured in 24 animals using hydrogen clearance techniques. The CWC in the saline-treated controls (79.9 +/- 0.4%) was significantly increased compared to the normal values (78.4 +/- 0.3%). The CWC in the groups receiving 1 mg/kg, 5 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg of bifemelane showed 79.3 +/- 0.3%, 79.5 +/- 0.2% and 78.9 +/- 0.3%, which were significantly lower than the controls (p less than 0.005, p less than 0.02, p less than 0.001). Thus, bifemelane reduced a development of ischemic cerebral edema in a dose-dependent manner. The rCBF in the bifemelane groups and the controls measured before the drug administration was the same ranging within 35.0-37.0 ml/100 g brain/min. The administration of bifemelane produced small rCBF increase. After the carotid artery occlusion, rCBF in all control animals decreased below 6.0 ml/100 g brain/min, the critical level for cellular ion-pump function. The majority of bifemelane-treated animals also showed a similar flow reduction. However, in 33% of animals receiving 10 mg/kg or 25 mg/kg of bifemelane, rCBF was maintained above this critical level.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Changes of polyphosphoinositides,lysophospholipid, and free fatty acids in transient cerebral ischemia of rat brain

Phosphatidylinositol (PI), phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate (PIP), phosphatidylinositol 4, 5-bisphosphate (PIP₂), 1, 2-diglyceride (DG), lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC), and free fatty acids (FFA) contents, as well as their fatty acid composition, were measured in transient global cerebral ischemia. ATP and CTP were also studied. Male Wistar rats were subjected to 1, 5, and 30 min of ischemia and 10, 30, and 60 min of recirculation following 30 min of ischemia. In addition, for the quantification of PI, PIP, and PIP₂, rats were also subjected to 30 and 60 min of recirculation following 5 min of ischemia. PIP₂ and PIP decreased rapidly during 5 min of ischemia and recovered completely after recirculation. DG increased almost at the same rate during ischemia and returned to normal after recirculation. PI showed almost no changes throughout entire course. LPC increased during 5 min of ischemia and returned to normal after recirculation. Stearic acid and arachidonic acid contained in DG increased during 5 min of ischemia, whereas saturated fatty acids increased in LPC. Among the FFA accumulated during ischemia, stearic acid and arachidonic acid increased rapidly and were followed by increases of other FFA. From these results, the pathways for the increase of FFA during ischemia and the fate of FFA after recirculation are discussed. In addition, the importance of the changes of PIP, PIP₂, and LPC is also discussed.     

Synergistic protective effects of antioxidant and nitric oxide synthase inhibitor in transient focal ischemia.

Both nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitors and free radical scavengers have been shown to protect brain tissue in ischemia-reperfusion injury. Nitric oxide and superoxide anion act via distinct mechanisms and react together to form the highly deleterious peroxynitrite. Therefore the authors examined the effects and the interaction between the NOS inhibitor, NG nitro-L-arginine (LNA) and the antioxidant/superoxide scavenger, di-tert-butyl-hydroxybenzoic acid (DtBHB) in the rat submitted to 2 hours of middle cerebral artery occlusion. Posttreatment was initiated 4 hours after the onset of ischemia and infarct volume was measured at 48 hours. The dose-related effect of LNA resulted in a bell-shaped curve: 15, 56, 65, and 33% reduction of total infarct for 0.03, 0.1, 0.3, and 1 mg/kg (intravenously [IV]) respectively and 11% increase in infarct volume for 3 mg/kg (IV). Whereas DtBHB (20 mg/kg; intraperitoneally [IP]) was ineffective, the dose of 60 mg/kg produced 65% protection in infarct volume. The combination of a subthreshold dose of LNA (0.03 mg/kg; IV) and DtBHB (20 mg/kg; IP) resulted in significant reduction (49%) in infarct volume. These results show that LNA and DtBHB act synergistically to provide a consistent neuroprotection against ischemic injury when administered 4 hours after ischemia. This suggests that nitric oxide and free radicals are involved and interact in synergy in ischemia-reperfusion injury.     

Regional differences in rat brain lipids during global ischemia.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Membrane lipid degradation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of ischemic brain damage, but there is little information on changes in cerebrosides, sulfatides, and sphingomyelin. We studied regional changes in the quantities of these lipids during complete global brain ischemia in rats. METHODS: Nitrous oxide-anesthetized rats were subjected to ischemia by a high-pressure neck cuff and arterial hypotension for 0 (control), 3, 10, or 30 minutes (n = 5 at each time). Brain temperature was allowed to fall spontaneously during ischemia, and the brain was frozen in situ with liquid N2 without recirculation. The frontal cortex, hippocampus, and basal ganglia were dissected at -15 degrees C. The lipids were separated by column and high-performance thin-layer chromatography and quantified by charring and densitometry. RESULTS: Total lipid content was higher (p less than 0.01) in the hippocampus (72.6 +/- 2.8 mg/g wet wt, mean +/- SD) than in the frontal cortex and basal ganglia (57.7 +/- 2.1 and 62.6 +/- 1.5 mg/g wet wt, respectively). Ischemic changes occurred only in the frontal cortex, where total lipid content fell (p less than 0.01) by 11% after 30 minutes of ischemia because sulfatide and cerebroside contents fell by 44% and 38%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Despite a marked accumulation of free fatty acids during complete global brain ischemia in rats, the only detectable changes in brain lipids were in the amounts of cerebrosides and sulfatides in the frontal cortex.     

银杏叶提取物对大鼠皮质缺血再灌注后自由基系统动态平衡的影响

目的　研究不同浓度银杏叶提取物 (GBE)对大鼠脑缺血再灌注损伤皮质内自由基动态平衡的影响。方法　将 119只Wistar大鼠随机分为 17组 ,假手术组 7只 ,缺血组—缺血 3h组 ,缺血 3h分别再灌注 1h、2h、3h组各 7只 ;治疗组 (即在缺血前 30分钟给予GBE 5mg/kg、10mg/kg、15mg/kg ,腹腔给药 )—缺血 3h ,但缺血 3h分别灌注 1h、2h、3h组各 7只。动物模型参照Zivin的大脑中动脉线栓模型并加以改进。结果　比较缺血组和治疗组 ,可见给予GBE后能明显减少丙二醛 (MDA)的产生 ,增加的超氧化物歧化酶 (superoxidedismutase ,SOD) ,SOD的测定采用黄嘌呤法 ,谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶 (glutathioneperoxi dase ,GSH PX)生成和释放 ,5mg/kg组与 10mg/kg、15mg/kg组间有显著差别 ,而后二者间无显著差别。结论　血小板活化因子拮抗剂GBE可通过增强SOD和GSH PX的合成、释放 ,降低MDA的合成、保护缺血的神经元 ,且与用药剂量有关。     

Brain tissue leukotrienes in cerebral ischemia and the effect of inhibitor of SRS-A release on postischemic cerebral edema

Arachidonic acid metabolites are postulated to play a role in the pathogenesis of cerebral ischemia. In order to test the development of lipoxygenase metabolites of arachidonic acid in cerebral ischemia, we measured free arachidonic acid and slow reacting substance of anaphylaxis (SRS-A) and leukotriene C4 in the brain tissue. Moreover, we studied the influence of inhibitor of SRS-A release on postischemic cerebral edema. Severe forebrain ischemia in rats was induced by the modification of the method described by Pulsinelli and Brierley. Both vertebral arteries were electrocauterized through the alar foramen and then bilateral common carotid arteries were clamped by aneurysmal clips and mean arterial pressure was reduced to 80-90 mmHg. EEG activity was isoelectric throughout the period of carotid clamping. After forebrain ischemia had been maintained for 30 minutes, recirculation was started by removal of the arterial clamps and by increasing blood pressure to the preischemic level. Following the desired ischemic or postischemic periods, the brains were frozen in situ with liquid nitrogen. The brains were then chiselled out during irrigation with liquid nitrogen and stored at -80 degrees C until analysis. The brain extracts were analysed by high performance liquid chromatography for free arachidonic acid, by bioassay using the ileum of guinea pig for SRS-A and by radioimmunoassay for leukotriene C4. Brain water content was calculated with dry weight method. Inhibitor of SRS-A release, tranilast, was given intraperitoneally, 100 mg/kg 30 minutes before induction of ischemia and 50 mg/kg immediately before recirculation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Effect of mild hypothermia on ischemia-induced release of neurotransmitters and free fatty acids in rat brain

We have demonstrated previously that mild intraischemic hypothermia confers a marked protective effect on the final histopathological outcome. The present study was carried out to evaluate whether this protective effect involves changes in the degree of local cerebral blood flow reductions, tissue accumulation of free fatty acids, or alterations in the extracellular release of glutamate and dopamine. Rats whose intraischemic brain temperature was maintained at 36 degrees C, 33 degrees C, or 30 degrees C were subjected to 20 minutes of ischemia by four-vessel occlusion combined with systemic hypotension. Levels of local cerebral blood flow, as measured autoradiographically, were reduced uniformly in all experimental animals at the end of ischemia by gas chromatography after tissue extraction and separation by thin layer chromatography. A massive ischemia-induced accumulation of individual free fatty acids was observed in animal groups whose intraischemic brain temperature was maintained at either 36 degrees C or 30 degrees C. Extracellular neurotransmitter levels were measured by microdialysis; the perfusate was collected before, during, and after ischemia. In rats whose intraischemic brain temperature was maintained at 36 degrees C, dopamine and glutamate increased significantly during ischemia and the early period of recirculation (by 500-fold and sevenfold, respectively). In animals whose brain temperature was maintained at 33 degrees C and 30 degrees C, the release of glutamate was completely inhibited, and the release of dopamine was significantly attenuated (by 60%). These results suggest that mild intraischemic hypothermia does not affect the ischemia-induced local cerebral blood flow reduction or free fatty acid accumulation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Brain mitochondrial swelling induced by arachidonic acid and other long chain free fatty acids

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), arachidonic acid in particular, are well known, potent inducers of edema in the brain, while monounsaturated and saturated long chain fatty acids do not possess this quality. This investigation has compared the ability of some free fatty acids (FFAs), known to be released during cerebral ischemia, to induce brain mitochondrial swelling in vitro. The PUFAs tested, especially arachidonic acid (20:4), were more potent in causing swelling than saturated or monounsaturated ones, as measured by the decrease in light absorbance of the mitochondrial suspension. This finding is in line with the unique potency of 20:4 to induce brain edema. Incubation of brain mitochondria with 20:4 for 20 min caused a dose-dependent swelling. ATP-MgCl2 both prevented and reversed this swelling, while binding of the 20:4 by the addition of bovine serum albumin could only prevent but not reverse the swelling. The contraction of the swollen mitochondria appeared to be mediated by a mechanism dependent upon high-energy phosphates, potentiated by MgCl2. The concentration of 20:4 required to induce swelling was about 20 times higher than the concentration required to induce inhibition of mitochondrial respiratory function (L Hillered and P H Chan: J Neurosci Res 19:94-100, 1988a). Moreover, reversal of the swelling occurred without recovery of respiratory function. These results suggest that swelling is a phenomenon of minor importance as an indicator of brain mitochondrial dysfunction, at least when induced by 20:4 in vitro.     

Progesterone exacerbates striatal stroke injury in progesterone-deficient female animals

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: We have previously shown that female animals experience substantial protection from brain injury after reversible middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) compared with their male or ovariectomized female counterparts. The reproductive steroid estrogen has been shown to provide neuroprotection from a variety of experimental insults, but the importance of progesterone as an anti-ischemic treatment has not been well explored. We evaluated histological outcomes after MCAO in ovariectomized female rats with or without acute or chronic progesterone replacement therapy. METHODS: Age-matched, adult female Wistar rats were ovariectomized and treated with 0, 30, or 60 mg/kg progesterone IP 30 minutes before ischemia (n=12 to 14 per group) or with 30 mg/kg progesterone IP daily for 7 to 10 days before ischemia (n=16). Each animal subsequently underwent 2 hours of MCAO with the intraluminal filament technique, followed by 22 hours of reperfusion. Ipsilateral parietal cortex perfusion was monitored with laser Doppler flowmetry throughout ischemia. Cortical, caudate-putamen, and hemispheric infarction volumes were determined with 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining and digital image analysis. RESULTS: Intraischemic plasma progesterone levels were 5+/-3, 102+/-20,* 181+/-28,* and 133+/-25* ng/mL in the 0, 30, and 60 mg/kg acute progesterone group and the 30 mg/kg chronic progesterone group, respectively (*P<0.05 compared with 0 mg/kg). Caudate-putamen infarction volume (percent contralateral structure) was significantly increased by chronic progesterone treatment: 45.6+/-5.1%* in the 30 mg/kg chronic progesterone group and 29.2+/-5.3%, 35.8+/-5.1%, and 42.0+/-5.0% in the 0, 30, and 60 mg/kg acute progesterone groups, respectively (*P<0.05 compared with 0 mg/kg). Cortical and total hemispheric infarction volumes (percent contralateral structure) were unchanged by progesterone treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Exogenous progesterone therapy does not ameliorate histological injury after MCAO in previously ovariectomized, adult female rats. Furthermore, chronic progesterone administration can exacerbate infarction in subcortical regions.