Neuroprotective action of dextromethorphan in rat photochemically-induced focal cerebral ischemia.
OBJECTIVE
To study the effects of dextromethorphan (Dex) on photochemically-induced focal cerebral ischemia in rats.


METHODS
Anesthetized rats undergone 10-min light irradiation on exposed skull after rose bengal injection were pretreated with saline and Dex at 3 doses (12.5, 25, and 50 mg.kg-1, i.p., 15 min before ischemia). The alteration of volume of lesioned cortical region, regional cerebral blood flow (CBF), bcl-2 and bax expression at penumbra area were studied.


RESULTS
Dex dose-dependently decreased the infarcted volume (17%, 26%, and 50% reduction, respectively). Pretreatment with Dex at a dose of 50 mg.kg-1 improved the postischemic hypoperfusion compared with the control at 20 and 30 min after lesion (both 31% increase), and also upregulated the expression of anti-apoptosis gene bcl-2.


CONCLUSIONS
Dex protects against ischemic neuronal damage in this model and its effects on CBF and bcl-2 expression may contribute to its neuroprotective action.
Yin
K J
KJ
Department of Neurobiology, Shanghai Medical University, China.
Sun
F Y
FY
D000818:Animals; D003915:Dextromethorphan / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008027:Light; D008297:Male; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012395:Rose Bengal
D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D012395:Rose Bengal; D003915:Dextromethorphan