title: The pre-ischaemic neuroprotective effect of a novel polyamine antagonist, N1-dansyl-spermine in a permanent focal cerebral ischaemia model in mice.
abstract: The polyamine sites on the NMDA receptor complex offer a therapeutic target for focal ischaemia, potentially devoid of most side effects associated with NMDA antagonists. In this study, we investigated the effect of a novel polyamine antagonist, N(1)-dansyl-spermine (0.5-10 mg kg(-1)) in a permanent focal cerebral ischaemia model in mice, and compared its effect to that of MK-801 (0.3-3 mg kg(-1)) following administration 30 min prior to ischaemia. A battery of histological and behavioural tests was employed following permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion to assess any neuroprotective effect. Following middle cerebral artery occlusion, N(1)-dansyl-spermine (1-5 mg kg(-1)) and MK-801 (1 or 3 mg kg(-1)) caused a comparable and significant reduction in the percentage hemisphere lesion volume. Similarly, both drugs significantly reduced oedema and neurological deficit score to a similar extent. Locomotor activity in MCAO mice was not significantly improved by MK-801 or N(1)-dansyl-spermine, although N(1)-dansyl-spermine induced a trend towards significant improvement. Significant improvement in rotarod performance was observed at neuroprotective doses with both drugs. Upon comparison of the profile of effects, N(1)-dansyl-spermine at least matched the effectiveness of MK-801 as a neuroprotective agent in this model. In addition, in sham-operated control mice, N(1)-dansyl-spermine was well tolerated, in contrast to the pronounced adverse effects of MK-801 on locomotor activity and rotarod performance. In conclusion, this study has shown that N(1)-dansyl-spermine is as effective a neuroprotective drug as MK-801 in this model. Moreover, in contrast to MK-801, N(1)-dansyl-spermine could be a promising therapeutic candidate for stroke as it is well tolerated at neuroprotective doses in sham-operated animals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland. juli@tcd.ie
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Martin C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Henman
authors.forename: Karen M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Doyle
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Strbian
authors.forename: Brian P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Kirby
authors.forename: Turgut
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tatlisumak
authors.forename: Graham G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Shaw
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D001925:Brain Damage, Chronic / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D003619:Dansyl Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D016291:Dizocilpine Maleate / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011073:Polyamines / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D045442:Rotarod Performance Test; D013096:Spermine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D003619:Dansyl Compounds; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; C105932:N(1)-dansylspermine; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D011073:Polyamines; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D013096:Spermine; D016291:Dizocilpine Maleate