Platelet-activating factor in brain regions after transient ischemia in gerbils.
OBJECTIVE
Platelet-activating factor (PAF) has been reported to be an active mediator in ischemic brain damage on the basis of indirect pharmacological data from PAF antagonists. The direct measurement of PAF in neuronal tissues has not been reported previously in analogous animal models. We have examined regional brain PAF concentration changes during the reperfusion period after ischemia in gerbils to obtain direct evidence for the involvement of PAF with ischemic brain damage and reported gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) methods of PAF quantitative analysis in brain tissues.


METHODS
After transient (10 minutes) ischemia followed by controlled periods (0 to 96 hours) of reperfusion and recovery, regional PAF concentrations were determined in gerbil brain tissue. Quantitative analysis of PAF in brain regions is performed using an electron-capture negative chemical ionization GC/MS method, modified for brain tissue.


RESULTS
The level of PAF was increased significantly and maximally in hippocampus (211%), cortex (168%), and thalamus (169%) after 1 hour of reperfusion. In contrast, there were no significant changes of PAF in any brain region from 6 hours to 96 hours after reperfusion.


CONCLUSIONS
PAF is increased in gerbil brain in response to ischemia at early stages of reperfusion. PAF increases could contribute to the onset and progress of ischemic neuropathology.
Nishida
K
K
Laboratory of Clinical Science, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Md., 20892-1262, USA.
Markey
S P
SP
D000818:Animals; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000737:chemistry; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000737:chemistry; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000737:chemistry; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods; D005849:Gerbillinae; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000737:chemistry; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000378:metabolism*; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor / Q000032:analysis* / Q000502:physiology; D015424:Reperfusion; D013788:Thalamus / Q000737:chemistry
D010972:Platelet Activating Factor