Thrombolysis of cerebral clot embolism in rat: effect of treatment delay.
Rats submitted to focal cerebral ischemia by middle cerebral artery clot embolism were treated with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) at increasing delays (1.5, 3 and 4.5 h) after the onset of ischemia. Treatment efficacy was evaluated by NMR imaging of the apparent diffusion coefficient of water (ADC). In untreated animals the size of the ADC-detectable lesion gradually increased after clot embolism, expanding over 8 h to 174 +/- 17% of the volume visible at 30 min. Thrombolysis initiated 1.5 h after embolism did not reverse the ischemic lesion but reduced its growth to 113 +/- 19% (p < 0.05). Lesion size increased to 135 +/- 14% after 3 h (NS) and to 214 +/- 35% after 4.5 h delay (NS). Thrombolysis with rt-PA attenuates infarct expansion but does not reverse ischemic injury.
Brinker
G
G
Max-Planck-Institute for Neurological Research, Köln, Germany.
Franke
C
C
Hoehn
M
M
Uhlenküken
U
U
Hossmann
K A
KA
D000818:Animals; D001931:Brain Mapping; D006801:Humans; D020766:Intracranial Embolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D020768:Middle Cerebral Artery; D010960:Plasminogen Activators / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy; D013997:Time Factors
D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D010960:Plasminogen Activators