Focal cerebral ischaemia in the cat: treatment with the glutamate antagonist MK-801 after induction of ischaemia.
The effects of the glutamate N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist MK-801 in reducing ischaemic brain damage have been examined in anaesthetised cats, with drug treatment being initiated 2 h after the induction of cerebral ischaemia. Focal cerebral ischaemia was produced by permanent occlusion of one middle cerebral artery, and the animals were killed 6 h later. The amount of early irreversible ischaemic damage was assessed at 16 predetermined stereotactic planes. Treatment with MK-801 (5 mg/kg, i.v.) 2 h after middle cerebral artery occlusion reduced significantly the volume of ischaemic damage (from 1,625 +/- 384 mm3 of the cerebral hemisphere in vehicle-treated cats to 792 +/- 385 mm3 in MK-801-treated cats). The demonstration of reduced ischaemic brain damage with MK-801, when the agent is administered after the induction of ischaemia, extends the therapeutic potential of such agents in the treatment of focal cerebral ischaemia in humans.
D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D002415:Cats; D003986:Dibenzocycloheptenes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D016291:Dizocilpine Maleate; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D016202:N-Methylaspartate
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D003986:Dibenzocycloheptenes; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D001224:Aspartic Acid; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D016202:N-Methylaspartate; D016291:Dizocilpine Maleate