A novel nonpsychotropic cannabinoid, HU-211, in the treatment of experimental pneumococcal meningitis.
Typical features of pneumococcal meningitis have been demonstrated in rats inoculated with Streptococcus pneumoniae. HU-211, a novel noncompetitive N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonist recently demonstrated to inhibit tumor necrosis factor-alpha production under various conditions, improves recovery in some experimental models of brain injury. The present study tested the efficacy of HU-211 in combination with antimicrobial therapy in reducing brain damage in experimental pneumococcal meningitis. S. pneumoniae-infected rats were treated with saline alone, ceftriaxone alone, or with combination of ceftriaxone and HU-211 18 h after inoculation of the bacteria. Brain edema and blood-brain barrier impairment 48 h after infection were significantly (P<.05) reduced suggest that HU-211 when given concomitantly with antibiotics attenuates brain damage in the rat model of pneumococcal meningitis.
Bass
R
R
Department of Pharmacology, Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel.
Engelhard
D
D
Trembovler
V
V
Shohami
E
E
D000818:Animals; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier / Q000187:drug effects; D001929:Brain Edema / Q000517:prevention & control; D002443:Ceftriaxone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D013759:Dronabinol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D008297:Male; D008586:Meningitis, Pneumococcal / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D002443:Ceftriaxone; D013759:Dronabinol; C062018:HU 211