title: Dose-response of cyclosporin A in attenuating traumatic axonal injury in rat.
abstract: Cyclosporin A has emerged as a promising therapeutic agent in traumatic brain injury (TBI), although its precise neuroprotective mechanism is unclear. Cyclosporin A, given as a single-dose intrathecal bolus, has previously been shown to attenuate mitochondrial damage and reduce axonal injury in experimental TBI. We assessed the effect of a range of intravenous cyclosporin A doses upon axonal injury attenuation to determine the ideal dose. Rats were subjected to experimental TBI and given one of five intravenous doses of cyclosporin A. At 3 h post-injury, brains were processed for brain tissue cyclosporin A concentration. In a second set of animals, at 24 h postinjury, brains were processed for amyloid precursor protein immunoreactivity, a widely used marker of axonal injury. Intravenous administration produced therapeutic levels of cyclosporin A in brain parenchyma. Higher concentrations were achieved with equivalent doses given intrathecally; this is consistent with the reported poor blood-brain barrier permeability of cyclosporin A. Cyclosporin A 10 mg/kg i.v. produced the greatest degree of neuroprotection against diffuse axonal injury; cyclosporin A 50 mg/kg i.v. was toxic. Intravenous cyclosporin A administration achieves therapeutic levels in brain parenchyma and 10 mg/kg is the most effective dose in attenuating axonal damage after traumatic brain injury.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Neuroscience and Neurological Surgery, University of Virginia, PO Box 800212, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA. doo5a@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu
authors.forename: David O
authors.initials: DO
authors.lastname: Okonkwo
authors.forename: David E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Melon
authors.forename: Anthony J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Pellicane
authors.forename: Leman K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Mutlu
authors.forename: David G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Rubin
authors.forename: James R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Stone
authors.forename: Gregory A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Helm
mesh_terms: D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor; D016572:Cyclosporine