title: Naloxone alteration of blood flow in a nonischemic region of the partially ischemic gerbil brain.
abstract: The effect of naloxone (NAL) treatment on cerebral blood flow in the partially ischemic gerbil brain was investigated. Under pentobarbital anesthesia, the right carotid artery in female gerbils was cannulated. A permanent ischemia was produced in the right anterior brain portion by carotid ligation. One hour after the surgical procedure, radioactive 51Cr, microspheres were injected via the carotid catheter before intraperitoneal administration of NAL (50 mg/kg) in saline solution. Five minutes later, radioactive 46Sc microspheres were injected via the carotid catheter. Controls were injected in the same manner with vehicle and microspheres. Brain quarters were assessed for 51Cr and 46Sc radioactivity with a gamma counter. A significant decrease in microsphere deposition was observed with NAL treatment in the right rear, nonischemic part of the brain. No changes in radioactivity were detected in the ischemic portion. These findings suggest that NAL may alter brain blood flow independently of ischemia.
authors.forename: D F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Larsen
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Parsa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D005849:Gerbillinae; D009270:Naloxone / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D009270:Naloxone