title: Neuroprotective effects of 7-nitroindazole in the gerbil model of global cerebral ischaemia.
abstract: To evaluate the role played by nitric oxide in global cerebral ischaemia we examined the effects of 7-nitroindazole and a sodium salt of 7-nitroindazole (inhibitors of neuronal nitric oxide (NO) synthase) and NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (a more general inhibitor of NO synthase) in the gerbil model of cerebral ischaemia. Four experiments were carried out. In the first experiment, animals were either sham-operated, subjected to 5 min bilateral carotid occlusion (BCAO) or administered 7-nitroindazole or NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester immediately after occlusion followed by three further doses at 3, 6 and 24 h post-occlusion. In the second experiment, we examined the effects of a sodium salt of 7-nitroindazole, which is more soluble than 7-nitroindazole, using the same protocol. In the third experiment, the effects of the sodium salt of 7-nitroindazole administered at 10 mg/kg at 0, 3, 6, 24, 27, 30, 33, 52, 55, 72, 75 and 78 h post-occlusion or at 0.05 mg/h for 72 h via mini-pumps were evaluated. In separate experiments, we examined the effects of three reference compounds dizocilpine (MK-801), 2, 3-dihydroxy-6-nitro-7-sulphamoyl-benz(F)-quinoxaline (NBQX) and eliprodil using the same model. Extensive neuronal death was observed in the CA1 layer of the hippocampus in 5 min bilateral carotid occluded animals 5 days after surgery. Both 7-nitroindazole and NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester provided significant neuroprotection (P < 0.01) against this neuronal death. The sodium salt of 7-nitroindazole showed no protection when administered up to 12 times post-occlusion, but did provide significant (P < 0.01) neuroprotection when administered via mini-pump. The neuroprotection was similar to that provided by MK-801 and eliprodil, but not as good as that observed with NBQX. These results indicate that nitric oxide plays a role in ischaemic cell death and that selective neuronal nitric oxide synthase inhibitors can protect against ischaemic brain damage.
authors.affiliation: Lilly Research Centre Limited, Surrey, UK. oneill-michael-j@lilly.com
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: O'Neill
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hicks
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ward
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D016291:Dizocilpine Maleate / Q000494:pharmacology; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005849:Gerbillinae; D007191:Indazoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D010880:Piperidines / Q000494:pharmacology; D011810:Quinoxalines / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D007191:Indazoles; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D010880:Piperidines; D011810:Quinoxalines; C062865:2,3-dioxo-6-nitro-7-sulfamoylbenzo(f)quinoxaline; D016291:Dizocilpine Maleate; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; C080122:7-nitroindazole; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester; C058083:eliprodil