Long-term study of dendritic spines from hippocampal CA1 pyramidal cells, after neuroprotective melatonin treatment following global cerebral ischemia in rats

Transient global cerebral ischemia causes loss of pyramidal cells in CA1 region of hippocampus. In this study, we investigated the neurotrophic effect of the immunosuppressant agent FK506 in rat after global cerebral ischemia. Both common carotid arteries were occluded for 20 minutes followed by reperfusion. In experimental group 1, FK506 (6 mg/kg) was given as a single dose exactly at the time of reperfusion. In the second group, FK506 was administered at the beginning of reperfusion, followed by its administration intraperitoneally (IP) 6, 24, 48, and 72 hours after reperfusion. FK506 failed to show neurotrophic effects on CA1 region when applied as a single dose of 6 mg/kg. The cell number and size of the CA1 pyramidal cells were increased, also the number of cell death decreased in this region when FK506 was administrated 48 h after reperfusion. This work supports the possible use of FK506 in treatment of ischemic brain damage.

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Effects of the AMPA-Receptor Antagonist, NBQX, on Neuron Loss in Dentate Hilus of the Hippocampal Formation after 8, 10, or 12 Min of Cerebral Ischemia in the Rat

Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow & Metabolism ◽

10.1097/00004647-199702000-00003 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 17 (2) ◽

pp. 147-152 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Ping Hu ◽

Nils Henrik Diemer ◽

Torben Bruhn ◽

Flemming Fryd Johansen

Keyword(s):

Cerebral Ischemia ◽

Receptor Antagonist ◽

Ampa Receptor ◽

Hippocampal Formation ◽

Neuroprotective Effect ◽

Pyramidal Cells ◽

Ca1 Pyramidal Cells ◽

Ampa Receptor Antagonist ◽

Hippocampal Ca1 ◽

Dentate Hilus

The α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole (AMPA) receptor antagonist, 2,3-dihydroxy-6-nitro-7-sulfamoyl-benzo( F)quinoxaline (NBQX), offers protection to hippocampal CA1 pyramidal cells after short episodes of transient cerebral ischemia. Besides CA1 pyramidal cells, neurons containing somatostatin (SS) and located in the dentate hilus of the hippocampal formation are lost after cerebral ischemia. We studied the protective effects of NBQX on SS neurons in the hilus and on hippocampal CA1 pyramidal cells following 8, 10, or 12 min of four-vessel occlusion ischemia during systemic hypotension. NBQX was administered 3 × 30 mg/kg at 0, 10, and 25 after induction of ischemia or sham, and all rats survived for 7 days. NBQX given to control rats without ischemia had no influence on number or morphology of hilar SS neurons and CA1 pyramidal cells. After 8 min of ischemia, NBQX prevented loss of hilar SS neurons. After 10 and 12 min of ischemia, NBQX had no significant effects on loss of SS neurons in the dentate hilus. However, in all ischemic groups, NBQX significantly reduced loss of CA1 pyramidal cells as compared to control rats. This neuroprotective effect decreased gradually and significantly as the time of ischemia increased. Our results support the observation that SS neurons in hilus are among the most ischemia-vulnerable neurons in the brain. We found that administration of NBQX in generally accepted dosages can protect the rapidly dying SS neurons in hilus from only brief episodes of ischemia.

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