Dextromethorphan reduces neocortical ischemic neuronal damage in vivo.
The dextrorotatory morphinan dextromethorphan (DM), a clinically tested antagonist of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor-channel complex, was tested in an in vivo model of acute transient focal cerebral ischemia. Rabbits were randomly assigned to pretreatment with a 20 mg/kg i.v. bolus followed by 10 mg/kg/h of 0.4% DM in normal saline (NS), or with an equivalent volume of NS alone. They then underwent 1 h occlusion of the left internal carotid artery an anterior cerebral artery followed by 4 h of reperfusion. DM-treated animals showed a significant decrease in the percentage of severe neocortical ischemic neuronal damage (10.5%), as compared to NS-treated animals (49.6%).
George
C P
CP
Division of Neurosurgery, Stanford University Medical Center, CA 94305-5327.
Goldberg
M P
MP
Choi
D W
DW
Steinberg
G K
GK
D000818:Animals; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology*; D003915:Dextromethorphan / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D007981:Levorphanol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D008297:Male; D011817:Rabbits
D007981:Levorphanol; D003915:Dextromethorphan