Platelet-activating factor is an important mediator in hypoxic ischemic brain injury in the newborn rat. Flunarizine and Ginkgo biloba extract reduce PAF concentration in the brain.
Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy is still a very important cause of neonatal mortality and morbidity. Recently, platelet-activating factor (PAF) has been accused of being responsible for the neuronal damage in hypoxic-ischemic brain. We investigated tissue PAF concentrations in hypoxic-ischemic brain injury in immature rats. Endogenous PAF concentration in brain tissue showed a marked increase in hypoxic-ischemic pups (85.6 +/- 15.5 pg/mg protein) when compared to that of control (9.05 +/- 3.1 pg/mg protein). In addition, we examined the effects of flunarizine, a selective calcium channel blocker, and Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb 761) on endogenous PAF concentration in hypoxic-ischemic brain injury. Endogenous PAF concentrations in both flunarizine-pretreated (16.6 +/- 4.8 pg/mg protein) and EGb 761-pretreated (33.5 +/- 8.9 pg/mg protein) pups were significantly lower than the untreated group. These results indicate that PAF is an important mediator in immature rat model of cerebral hypoxic-ischemic injury. The suppressor effect of flunarizine and EGb 761 on PAF production may open new insight into the treatment of hypoxic-ischemic brain injury.
Department of Pediatrics, Ege University Medical School, Izmir, Turkey. makisu@med.ege.edu.tr
M
M
Akisü
N
N
Kültürsay
I
I
Coker
A
A
Hüseyinov
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005444:Flunarizine / Q000494:pharmacology; D020441:Ginkgo biloba; D002534:Hypoxia, Brain / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D010936:Plant Extracts; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor; D005444:Flunarizine