scholarly journals Regionally Selective Effects of NMDA Receptor Antagonists against Ischemic Brain Damage in the Gerbil

1991 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 600-610 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael A. Warner ◽  
Kenneth H. Neill ◽  
J. Victor Nadler ◽  
Barbara J. Crain
Keyword(s):  
Nmda Receptor ◽  
Pyramidal Cells ◽  
Carotid Occlusion ◽  
Neuroprotective Activity ◽  
Ischemic Damage ◽  
Nmda Receptor Antagonists ◽  
Receptor Antagonists ◽  
Mk 801 ◽  
Ca1 Pyramidal Cells ◽  
Cgs 19755

This study compared the ability of three N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists to prevent neuronal degeneration in an animal model of global cerebral ischemia. The model employed is characterized by damage to the striatum, hippocampus, and neocortex. Antagonists were administered to gerbils either before or after a 5-min bilateral carotid occlusion. The intraischemic rectal temperature was either maintained at 36–37°C or allowed to fall passively to 28–32°C. Antagonists and doses tested were 1 and 10 mg/kg of MK-801 (pre- or postischemia), 30 mg/kg of CGS 19755 preischemia, four 25 mg/kg doses of CGS 19755 administered between 0.5 and 6.5 h postischemia, and 40 mg/kg of MDL 27,266 (pre- or postischemia). All three NMDA receptor antagonists exhibited some degree of neuroprotective activity when the carotid occlusion was performed under normothermic conditions. Most of the treatments with antagonist markedly reduced striatal damage. CA1 hippocampal and neocortical pyramidal cells were spared by only three of the treatments, however, and the extent of neuroprotection varied widely from case to case. Toxic doses of antagonist were required to protect CA1 pyramidal cells from ischemic damage. Ischemic damage to hippocampal areas CA2–CA3a and CA4 appeared to be resistant to all of these treatments. Most CA1 pyramidal cells that were protected from degeneration by an NMDA receptor antagonist were histologically abnormal. The neuroprotective effects of MK-801 and intraischemic hypothermia appeared to be additive. MK-801 (10 mg/kg) consistently reduced the postischemic brain temperature, but only the magnitude of hypothermia produced soon after reperfusion correlated with its neuroprotective action. These results suggest that NMDA receptor antagonists are relatively poor neuroprotective agents against a moderately severe ischemic insult.

Autoradiographic analysis of 3H-MK-801 (dizocilpine) in vivo uptake and in vitro binding after focal cerebral ischemia in the rat

1992 ◽  
Vol 76 (1) ◽  
pp. 127-133 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael C. Wallace ◽  
Graham M. Teasdale ◽  
James McCulloch
Keyword(s):  
Nmda Receptor ◽  
Caudate Nucleus ◽  
Intravenous Administration ◽  
Nmda Receptor Antagonists ◽  
Contralateral Hemisphere ◽  
Receptor Antagonists ◽  
Isotopic Tracer ◽  
Mk 801 ◽  
Ischemic Tissue

✓ The clinical utility of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists is now being assessed in ischemic brain injury in humans. The uptake and retention of NMDA receptor antagonists in ischemic tissue will influence the design of clinical trials. The effects of permanent occlusion of the middle cerebral artery, induced 15 minutes prior to isotope administration, on the uptake of 3H-MK-801 (dizocilpine) have been assessed in the rat with quantitative autoradiography. In a group of three rats at 15 minutes after the intravenous administration of 3H-MK-801, the level (mean ± standard error of the mean) of isotopic tracer in the ischemic cortex and striatum was markedly less than that in the contralateral hemisphere (ipsilateral vs. contralateral caudate nucleus: 22 ± 4 vs. 84 ± 11 pmol/gm, p < 0.01). In contrast, in a group of five rats at 60 minutes after the intravenous administration of 3H-MK-801, the level of isotopic tracer in the ischemic cortex and striatum was greater than that in the contralateral hemisphere (ipsilateral vs. contralateral caudate nucleus: 52 ± 8 vs. 32 ± 4 pmol/gm, p < 0.05). There were no significant alterations in the specific binding of 3H-MK-801 in vitro in ischemic tissue at equivalent times. The early uptake of 3H-MK-801 into the central nervous system is dominated by the level of cerebral blood flow, whereas at later times after administration enhancement of MK-801 binding by elevated extracellular glutamate concentrations appears to be more important in determining the level of the drug in ischemic tissue.

Gabapentin and NMDA receptor antagonists interacts synergistically to alleviate allodynia in two rat models of neuropathic pain

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 687-693 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tiansheng Shi ◽  
Jing-Xia Hao ◽  
Zsuzsanna Wiesenfeld-Hallin ◽  
Xiao-Jun Xu
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Neuropathic Pain ◽  
Nmda Receptor ◽  
Side Effects ◽  
Sciatic Nerve ◽  
Nerve Injury ◽  
Sciatic Nerve Injury ◽  
Nmda Receptor Antagonists ◽  
Receptor Antagonists ◽  
Mk 801

Abstract Background and aims The clinical management of neuropathic pain remains a challenge. We examined the interaction between gabapentin and NMDA receptor antagonists dextromethrophan and MK-801 in alleviating neuropathic pain-like behaviors in rats after spinal cord or sciatic nerve injury. Methods Female and male rats were produced with Ischemic spinal cord injury and sciatic nerve injury. Gabapentin, dextromethorphan, MK-801 or drug combinations were injected with increasing doses. Mechanical response thresholds were tested with von Frey hairs to graded mechanical touch/pressure, and ethyl chloride spray was applied to assess the cold sensitivity before and after injuries. Results In spinally injured rats, gabapentin and dextromethorphan did not affect allodynia-like behaviors at doses of 30 and 20 mg/kg, respectively. In contrast, combination of 15 or 30 mg/kg gabapentin with dextromethorphan at 10 mg/kg produced total alleviation of allodynia to mechanical or cold stimulation. Further reducing the dose of gapapentin to 7.5 mg/kg and dextromethorphan to 5 mg/kg still produced significant effect. MK-801, another NMDA receptor antagonist, also enhanced the effect of gabapentin in spinally injured rats. Similar synergistic anti-allodynic effect between dextromethorphan and gabapentin was also observed in a rat model of partial sciatic nerve injury. No increased side effect was seen following the combination between gabapentin and dextromethorphan. Conclusions In conclusion, the present study suggested that combining NMDA receptor antagonists with gabapentin could provide synergistic effect to alleviate neuropathic pain and reduced side effects. Implications Combining NMDA receptor antagonists with gabapentin may provide a new approach in alleviating neuropathic pain with increased efficacy and reduced side effects.

Lack of Effect of Intrathecally Administered N-methyl-D-aspartate Receptor Antagonists in a Rat Model for Postoperative Pain 

1998 ◽  
Vol 88 (1) ◽  
pp. 143-156 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter K. Zahn ◽  
Timothy J. Brennan
Keyword(s):  
Nmda Receptor ◽  
Postoperative Pain ◽  
Rat Model ◽  
Intrathecal Administration ◽  
Nmda Receptor Antagonist ◽  
Nmda Receptor Antagonists ◽  
Receptor Antagonists ◽  
Mk 801 ◽  
Pain Behaviors ◽  
Plantar Incision

Background Evidence from experiments by others indicates an important role for excitatory amino acids activating spinal n-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors in models of persistent pain. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of intrathecal (+)-5-methyl-10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo(a,d)cyclohepten-5,10-imine (MK-801), a noncompetitive NMDA receptor antagonist, 2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid (AP5), a competitive NMDA receptor antagonist, and N-G-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, on pain behaviors in a rat model of postoperative pain. Methods Rats with intrathecal catheters were anesthetized and underwent a plantar incision. Withdrawal threshold to punctate stimulation applied adjacent to the wound, response frequency to application of a nonpunctate stimulus applied directly to the wound, and nonevoked pain behaviors were measured before and after intrathecal administration of MK-801 or AP5. The effect of intrathecal L-NAME on mechanical hyperalgesia was also examined. Results Mechanical hyperalgesia increased and was persistent after plantar incision and was not decreased by intrathecal administration of 4, 14, or 40 nmol MK-801 or 10 nmol AP5. Only the greatest dose of AP5, 30 nmol, caused a small decrease in punctate and nonpunctate hyperalgesia. Intrathecal L-NAME had no effect. Neither intrathecal MK-801 nor intrathecal AP5 affected nonevoked pain behaviors. The greatest doses caused motor deficits. Conclusions Unlike intrathecal and systemic morphine, intrathecal NMDA receptor antagonists did not modify pain behaviors in this rat model of postoperative pain. These data suggest that NMDA receptors do not play an important role in the maintenance of postoperative pain behaviors and that NMDA receptor antagonists, administered spinally by themselves during the postoperative period, will not be useful for the treatment of postoperative pain in humans.

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