Antioxidant effects of antihypoxic drugs in cerebral ischemia]

Cerebral ischemia in rats (both carotid arteries occlusion) during 30 min, 3 hours and recirculation (1 hour) after ischemia (30 min) stimulated diene conjugates and fluorescent products accumulation in brain tissue. Intraperitoneal injection of sodium hydroxybutyrate (100 mg/kg), bemitil (50 mg/kg), ethomersol (50 mg/kg) reduced brain lipid peroxidation and did not yield in this respect to emoxypin (5 mg/kg). In contrast to emoxypin, sodium hydroxybutyrate, bemitil and ethomersol had no antiradical activity.     

Interactions of peripheral mu-opioid receptors and K(ATP)-channels in regulation of cardiac electrical stability in ischemia,reperfusion, and postinfarction cardiosclerosis

It has been shown that mu-opioid receptor stimulation by intravenous administration of the selective mu receptor agonist DALDA in a dose of 0.1 mg/kg prevented ischemic and reperfusion arrhythmias in rats subjected to coronary artery occlusion (10 min) and reperfusion (10 min), and also increased the ventricular fibrillation threshold in rats with postinfarction cardiac fibrosis. These effects were abolished by pre-treatment with the selective mu receptor antagonist CTAP in a dose of 0.5 mg/kg or by prior injection of the opioid receptor antagonist naloxone methiodide (2 mg/kg) which does not penetrate the blood-braib barrier. Both antagonists by themselves had no effect on the incidence of occlusion or reperfusion-induced arrhythmias or on the ventricular fibrillation threshold. Pre-treatment with ATP-sensitive K+ channel (KATP channel) blocker glibenclamide in a dose of 0.3 mg/kg completely abolished the antiarrhythmic effect of DALDA. We believe that DALDA prevents occurrence of electrical instability during ischemia and reperfusion and increases the ventricular fibrillation threshold in rats with postinfarction cardiac fibrosis via stimulation of peripheral mu-opioid receptor which appear to be coupled to the KATP channel.     

Possible neuroprotective effects of lecithin and alpha-tocopherol alone or in combination against ischemia/reperfusion insult in rat brain

A close correlation exists between ischemia/reperfusion (I/R)-induced insult and the release of free radicals. Lecithin is a polyunsaturated phosphatidylcholine that corresponds to the phosphatidylcholine molecule. Phosphatidylcholines are high-energy functional and structural elements of all biologic membranes. alpha-Tocopherol is the major lipid-soluble chain-breaking antioxidant in the body tissues and effectively protects against neuronal damage. Therefore, we studied the effect of lecithin (300 mg/kg, p.o., 14 days) and alpha-tocopherol (200 mg/kg, p.o., 14 days), alone or in combination, on the brain redox state during I/R. Adult male Wistar rats were subjected to global ischemia by the occlusion of the two carotid arteries 24 h after the last dose of drug administration. Reperfusion was carried out 1 h after induction of ischemia and lasted for another hour. Brain lipid peroxides (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) contents, as well as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities were assessed. The results showed that I/R elevated brain lipid peroxides content which was accompanied by a reduction in both antioxidant enzyme activities, however, brain GSH level remained unaltered. Lecithin, alpha-tocopherol and their combination restored MDA content, as well as CAT activity with a slight tendency to normalize SOD activity. We conclude that lecithin has a possible neuroprotective effect partly through its antioxidant action which is comparable to that of alpha-tocopherol.     

Evaluation of antioxidant and neuroprotective effect of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) against bilateral common carotid artery occlusion in rats

The cerebral ischemia in rats was induced by occluding bilateral common carotid arteries (BCCAO) for 30 min., followed by 45 min reperfusion. BCCAO caused significant depletion in superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione-S-transferase, glutathione reductase and significant increase in lipid peroxidation along with severe neuronal damage in the brain. All the alterations except depletion in glutathione peroxidase and glutathione-S-transferase levels induced by cerebral ischemia were significantly attenuated by 15 days pretreatment with methanolic extract of P. dactylifera fruits (100, 300 mg/kg), whereas 30 mg/kg dose was insignificant in this regard. These results suggest the possible use P. dactylifera against bilateral common carotid artery occlusion induced oxidative stress and neuronal damage.     

Neuroprotective efficiency of NMDA receptor blockade in the striatum and CA3 hippocampus after various durations of cerebral ischemia in gerbils

The purpose of this study was to investigate neuroprotective efficiency of N-methyl D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor (NMDAR) blockade on the neuronal damage in the less studied and allegedly less affected CA3 hippocampus and striatum in the Mongolian gerbil model of global cerebral ischemia. The common carotid arteries of gerbils were occluded for 5, 10 or 15 minutes. Gerbils were given a low dose of non-competitive NMDA antagonist (MK-801, 3 mg/kg i.p.) or saline immediately after the occlusion in normothermic conditions. Neuronal damage was examined on 4th, 14th and 28th day after reperfusion. The effect of NMDAR blockade was followed in vivo by monitoring the neurological status of whole animals or at the cellular level by standard light- and confocal microscopy on brain slices. Increased duration of cerebral ischemia resulted in a progressive loss of striatal and CA3 hippocampal neurons. The most beneficial NMDAR blockade effect was observed when the neuronal damage was most severe - on the 28th day after 15-min ischemia. As judged by morphological and neurological data, the effect of ischemia is also apparent in the presumed less vulnerable regions (CA3 and striatum) which are functionally important in stroke plasticity. So, NMDAR blockade in normothermic conditions showed neuroprotective efficiency.     

Naloxone or TRH fails to improve neurologic deficits in gerbil models of “stroke”

The effects of naloxone or thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) upon neurologic outcome were evaluated in gerbil models of cerebral ischemia. Following temporary bilateral carotid occlusion, hypotension was transiently reversed by these endorphin antagonists. However, neither drug altered time to awaken, time to death, or the severity of neurologic signs (ptosis, movement, retracted paws, circling, righting reflexes, seizures, or opisthotonus) when evaluated by a blinded rater. Hot plate escape and roto-rod performance were also unaltered by naloxone or TRH; TRH, but not naloxone, increased respiratory rates. Thus, the transient improvement of cardiorespiratory function produced by these drugs is unrelated to the morbidity and mortality associated with temporary cerebral ischemia in the gerbil. Additional studies evaluating the effects of naloxone or TRH upon neurologic outcome following permanent unilateral carotid occlusion also failed to show any therapeutic effects of these drugs. Both morphine and TRH exacerbated the effects of ischemia. Of gerbils which developed neurologic impairment, the deficit was usually ipsilateral to the occluded carotid. Collectively, these results indicate that neither naloxone nor TRH prevents ischemic deficits in the gerbil. Further studies with different cerebral ischemia models in other species are required to clarify the possible therapeutic effects of these drugs in experimental stroke.     

Hemorheological abnormalities in experimental cerebral ischemia and effects of protein kinase inhibitor on blood fluidity

The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanisms of the pathogenesis of hyperviscosity following cerebral ischemia. Focal ischemia was produced by embolic occlusion of the right middle cerebral artery (MCA) in rats for 1 hour, followed by recirculation. Twenty-four hours after MCA occlusion, fasudil, a protein kinase inhibitor, was administered intraperitoneally. Blood samples were taken from the abdominal aorta, and viscosity was measured using a cone-plate viscometer. The viscosity of whole blood in the ischemic attack group was significantly increased compared with the sham operated group 24 hours after MCA occlusion. Fasudil dose-dependently and significantly decreased the blood viscosity, and reduced to the normal range after administration of 10 mg/kg of fasudil (sham-operated rats, 5.17+/-0.05 cP; pre dose/ischemic rats, 6.05+/-0.08 cP; post dose/ischemic rats, 5.23+/-0.14 cP; 37.5 sec(-1)). Our findings suggest that cerebral ischemia induces a potent, systemic and long-lasting hyperviscosity, and that the inhibition of protein kinases, especially rho kinase, is efficacious in preventing this hyperviscosity.     

Participation of central and peripheral mu- and delta opiate receptors in anti-arrhythmia action of enkephalins]

It was found, that injection of delta-receptors agonist dalargin before the occlusion of left anterior coronary artery in rats prevented the decrease of ventricular fibrillation threshold (VFT). An injection of naloxone in dose 0.5 mg/kg (for the blockade of mu-receptors only) had no influence on the VFT. Naloxone in dose 1 mg/kg (for the blockade peripheric mu- and delta-receptors) decreased VFT. An intraventricular infusion of dalargin (10 mkg) induced bradycardia and an increase of VFT. It was assumed that anti-arrhythmic effects of enkephalins in acute myocardial ischemia could be realized by an activation of peripheric delta-receptors and central mu-receptors.     

The site of action of naloxone in suppressing food and water intake in rats

Previous studies have shown that naloxone causes a decrease in food and water intake; however, the site of this action has not been determined. We investigated this problem by giving bilateral injections of 15 μg/rat of naloxone into the lateral ventricles of cannulated, food and water deprived rats. This treatment caused a significant decrease in food intake when compared to saline injected controls. Water intake in naloxone-treated animals did not differ significantly from that of saline-treated controls during the one hour test period. The total dose of naloxone given centrally, 15 μg, did not produce a change in eating or drinking if given peripherally. The findings imply that naloxone exerts its effect on food intake at a central site. A dose-related and significant suppression of water intake was seen after treatment with nalaxone peripherally (1, 3, and 10 mg/kg, i.p.) in rats with either subdiaphragmatic vagotomy (vag) or a sham vagotomy (sham). Although a significant suppression of food intake was seen in the sham rats, no supression of food intake was seeen in the vag rats at any dose of naloxone tested. In rats pretreated with methyl atropine (5 mg/kg, i.p.), naloxone (3 mg/kg, i.p.) was equivalent to saline in that it did not decrease food intake. However, nalaxone did cause a significant decrease in water intake in methylatropine pre-treated rats. These results suggest that the suppression of food intake by naloxone has a central site of action which is mediated by the vagus, and specifically by vagal efferents, since the effect was blocked by methylatropine. The results also suggest that naloxone's effect on water intake is mediated by a different mechanism than that involved with food intake.     

Potassium nitrate effect on the development of neurological disorders in experimental brain ischemia

Effect of potassium nitrate (KNO₃) on the dynamics of neurological disorders and lethality in rats as sequelae of brain ischemia induced by a single-step bilateral common carotid artery occlusion were investigated in Wistar rats. KNO₃ at a dose of 5 mg/1000 g administered 60 min prior to the occlusion of the two carotid arteries reliably reduced the severity of neurological disorders and lethality in rats.     

强啡肽和心钠素可能参与可乐定的降压利尿作用

静脉注射可乐定引起大鼠血压降低和心率减慢。此效应可被α受体阻断剂酚妥拉明所对抗。预先腹腔注射大剂量阿片受体阻断剂纳洛酮或静脉注射强啡肽抗体可以部分阻断可乐定的降压效应。静脉注射可乐定可以引起大鼠尿量显著增加,该效应也可被大剂量的纳洛酮所阻断。静脉注射可乐定引起明显的心钠素释放,这一作用可被α受体阻断剂所完全对抗,亦可被阿片受体阻断剂所部分阻断。以上结果说明强啡肽与心钠素可能参与可乐定的降压利尿作用。     

Hypothalamic injection of morphine: Feeding and temperature responses

Morphine (2.7, 5.6 and 10.3 nmoles) and norepinephrine (10, 20 and 40 nmoles) were applied to the ventromedial hypothalamus of male rats through cannulae which were implanted stereotaxically. Food intake was enhanced by both drugs as compared with saline. Although intake peaked during the first hour following norepinephrine, it was more gradual following morphine. Both drugs also caused a rise in core temperature, but only with morphine did this persist throughout the 3-hour measurement period. Naloxone (10.6 nmoles) injected into the ventromedial hypothalamus 5 minutes before morphine (5.6 nmoles) caused a short-lived decrease in feeding and temperature when compared with a saline control. The same dose of naloxone given into this site 1 hour after morphine had no apparent effect on either parameter. Naloxone (2 and 10 mg/kg) given subcutaneously suppressed feeding and temperature changes produced by intrahypothalamic morphine. These results indicate that morphine can increase feeding and temperature at a site which is also responsive to norepinephrine, and that naloxone, given intracranially or subcutaneously, can suppress the effects induced by morphine to different degrees.     

Superoxide dismutase,catalase, and U78517F attenuate neuronal damage in gerbils with repeated brief ischemic insults

Repeated ischemic insults at one hour intervals result in more severe neuronal damage than a single similar duration insult. The mechanism for the more severe damage with repetitive ischemia is not fully understood. We hypothesized that the prolonged reperfusion periods between the relatively short ischemic insults may result in a pronounced generation of oxygen free radicals (OFRs). In this study, we tested the protective effects of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (alone or in combination), and U78517F in a gerbil model of repetitive ischemia. Three episodes (two min each) of bilateral carotid occlusion were used at one hour intervals to produce repetitive ischemia. Superoxide dismutase and catalase were infused via osmotic pumps into the lateral ventricles. Two doses of U78517F were given three times per animal, one half hour prior to each occlusion. Neuronal damage was assessed 7 days later in several brain regions using the silver staining technique. The Mann-Whitney U test was used for statistical comparison. Superoxide dismutase showed significant protection in the hippocampus (CA4), striatum, thalamus and the medial geniculate nucleus (MGN). Catalase showed significant protection in the striatum, hippocampus, thalamus, and MGN and the substantia nigra reticulata. Combination of the two resulted in additional protection in the cerebral cortex. Compared to the controls, there was little protection with a dose of 3 mg/kg of U78517F. There was significant protection with a dose of 10 mg/kg in the hippocampus (CA4), striatum, thalamus, medial geniculate nucleus and the substantia nigra reticulata. The significant protection noted with SOD, catalase or U78517F with repeated ischemia supports, the hypothesis that OFRs may play a role in neuronal damage in repeated cerebral ischemia.     

Naloxone and methylprednisolone sodium succinate enhance sympathomedullary discharge in patients with septic shock

Naloxone and methylprednisolone sodium succinate (MPSS) may act in synergy to improve hemodynamics in patients with septic shock by enhancement of sympathomedullary discharge. This randomized double-blind study describes the effect of various dosing regimens of naloxone and MPSS upon hemodynamics and plasma catecholamines in patients with septic shock (n = 57). Consecutive bolus doses of naloxone were given 30 minutes apart (10 μg/kg;–100 μg/kg) and a single dose of MPSS (30 mg/kg); bolus doses of 5% dextrose in water solution plus single dose of MPSS as above; bolus dose of naloxone (30 μg/kg) followed by continuous infusion (30 μg/kg/hr for 1 hour) with single dose of MPSS as above; a bolus and continuous infusion of naloxone as above without MPSS; MPSS alone and standard therapy alone. In patients treated with bolus doses of naloxone in combination with MPSS, plasma levels of epinephrine and norepinephrine were increased approximately five-to tenfold. In patients treated with bolus plus continuous infusion of naloxone given with or without MPSS, only plasma epinephrine levels were increased. Systolic blood pressure and left ventricular stroke work index were improved within 15 minutes in groups which received naloxone and corticosteroids regardless of dose. In those groups, there were no changes in heart rate or filling pressure. Systematic vascular resistance improved significantly only in the group which received low dose bolus and continuous infusion of naloxone and MPSS. Naloxone and MPSS quickly improved cardiac function in patients with septic shock by enhanced sympathomedullary discharge and may be useful as an adjunct in the therapy of this disorder.     

Effect of graded doses of naloxone on renal function in canine hemorrhagic shock.

All the parameters of renal function (inulin clearance, para amino hippuric acid clearance and urine flow) which were depressed during experimentally induced hemorrhagic shock in dogs improved significantly in addition to improvement in mean arterial pressure (MAP) after bolus administration (iv) of 1 or 2 mg/kg naloxone. A smaller dose (0.5 mg/kg) of naloxone, however, did not improve the renal function. Even renal arterial injection of the same dose of naloxone showed no improvement in the renal function. In both these cases the improvement in the MAP was significantly less as compared to other groups of animals which received 1 or 2 mg/kg naloxone. It may be concluded that (a) naloxone at doses of 1 or 2 mg/kg improved the renal function by improving MAP and (b) naloxone has no direct action on renal vasculature.     

Possible nitric oxide mechanism in the protective effect of hesperidin against ischemic reperfusion cerebral injury in rats

Stroke is the third leading cause of death and disability around the globe. The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate the protective effect of hesperidin and its nitric oxide mechanism against cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury. Bilateral common carotid artery occlusion for 30 min followed by 24 h reperfusion was given to induce ischemia in rats. Animals were pretreated with hesperidin (50 and 100 mg/kg, po) for 7 days. Various behavioural tests, oxidative stress parameters, endogenous antioxidant system, antioxidant enzyme activity and mitochondrial enzyme complex (I, II, III and IV) dysfunctions in cortex and striatum were assessed subsequently. Hesperidin (50 and 100 mg/kg) significantly improved neurobehavioral alterations (neurological score, locomotor activity, resistance to lateral push and hanging wire latency), attenuated oxidative damage, restored antioxidant and mitochondrial complex enzyme activities in cortex and in striatum regions of the brain as compared to their respective controls. L-arginine (100 mg/kg) or L-NAME (10 mg/kg) pretreatment with lower dose of hesperidin (50 mg/kg) significantly reversed or potentiated its protective effect, respectively which was significant as compared to hesperidin (50 mg/kg). The results highlight the involvement of nitric oxide mechanism in the protective effect of hesperidin against ischemia reperfusion injury induced alterations.     

用激光共聚焦显微镜观察纳络酮防治血管性痴呆大鼠对海马锥体细胞内钙离子的影响

目的:观察纳络酮预防性治疗血管性痴呆大鼠对海马锥体神经细胞内钙离子的影响。方法:将30只大鼠随机分为假手术组、模型组、防治组。利用钙离子敏感探针Fluo 3与钙离子络合后被激发产生荧光的特点,应用激光共聚焦显微镜观察海马锥体细胞内钙离子的荧光强度,应用图像分析技术记性处理。结果:荧光像素平均值假手术组为135.05±29.14;模型组为484.05±298.72较假手术组明显升高(P<0.01);防治组为139.39±30.74,较模型组明显降低(P<0.01)。结论:纳络酮防治血管性痴呆大鼠与其抑制钙离子内流保护海马神经元有关。     

The effect of single and chronic administration of imipramine on clonidine-induced hypothermia in the rat

The effect of imipramine (IMI) on the hypothermic action of clonidine, 50 μg/kg iv., was examined after a single dose and after 7, 14 and 21 days of IMI administration in doses of 2 and 10 mg/kg i.p. in rats. Single administration of IMI both in a dose of 2 and 10 mg/kg does not effect clonidine-induced hypothermia. IMI in a dose of 10 mg/kg given for one week significantly blocks the response to clonidine administration, but it has practically no effect in a dose of 2 mg/kg. After a three-week treatment also a dose of 2 mg/kg blocks clonidine-induced hypothermia. It has been demonstrated that the chronic administration of IMI in contrast to the single one significantly blocks clonidine hypothermia.     

凝闭双侧椎动脉预处理对大鼠全脑缺血损伤的防护作用

目的：观察凝闭双侧椎动脉与夹闭双侧颈总动脉之间的不同时间间隔对Pulsinelli四血管闭塞法全脑缺血模型的影响、以及在凝闭单侧椎动脉的基础上夹闭双侧颈总动脉后的脑缺血的特点。方法：84只Wistar大鼠．随机分为以下4组：对照组、双侧椎动脉凝闭组、全脑缺血组、单侧椎动脉凝闭＋双侧颈总动脉夹闭组。全脑缺血组中,根据凝闭双侧椎动脉与夹闭双侧颈总动脉之间的时间间隔不同,又分为24h间隔、48h间隔和72h间隔3个亚组。观察大鼠脑缺血过程中的反应包括瞳孔散大、对光反射等情况,脑缺血后恢复翻正反射所需要的时间、以及动物的一般状况,并应用硫堇染色法观察海马CA1区锥体神经元迟发性死亡的情况：结果：全脑缺血72h间隔亚组的大鼠,脑缺血过程中的反应、脑缺血后的一般状况和锥体神经元迟发性死亡程度均明显重于全脑缺血24h间隔亚组及48h间隔亚组,但24h间隔亚组与48h间隔亚组之间无显著差异一单侧椎动脉凝闭＋双侧颈总动脉夹闭组大鼠的凝闭侧瞳孔散大、对光反射消失、海马CA1区神经元大量死亡;而未凝闭侧未见上述相关变化。结论：凝闭双侧椎动脉本身也具有脑缺血预处理样作用,对其后48h内夹闭双侧颈总动脉所致的严重脑缺血具有一定程度的保护作用;大鼠椎动脉对脑干及海马的血液供应均存在明显的同侧优势效应,     

Tenoxicam Exerts a Neuroprotective Action after Cerebral Ischemia in Rats

In this study we investigated the effects of Tenoxicam, a type 2 cyclooxygenase (COX-2) inhibitor, on brain damage induced by ischemia-reperfusion. Male Wistar rats (18-month old average) were anesthetized and submitted to ischemia occlusion of both common carotid arteries (BCAO) for 45 min. After 24 h of reperfusion, rats were decapitated and hippocampi removed for further assays. Animals were divided into sham-operated, ischemia, ischemia + Tenoxicam 2.5 mg/kg, and ischemia + Tenoxicam 10 mg/kg groups. Tenoxicam was administered intraperitoneally immediately after BCAO. Histological analyses show that ischemia produced significant striatal as well as hippocampal lesions which were reversed by the Tenoxicam treatment. Tenoxicam also significantly reduced, to control levels, the increased myeloperoxidase activity in hippocampus homogenates observed after ischemia. However, nitrite concentrations showed only a tendency to decrease in the ischemia + Tenoxicam groups, as compared to that of ischemia alone. On the other hand, hippocampal glutamate and aspartate levels were not altered by Tenoxicam. In conclusion, we showed that ischemia is certainly related to inflammation and to increased free radical production, and selective COX-2 inhibitors might be neuroprotective agents of potential benefit in the treatment of cerebral brain ischemia.