title: Neuroprotective effects of (-)-epigallocatechin gallate following hypoxia-ischemia-induced brain damage: novel mechanisms of action.
abstract: (-)-Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is a potent antioxidant that is neuroprotective against ischemia-induced brain damage. However, the neuroprotective effects and possible mechanisms of action of EGCG after hypoxia-ischemia (HI) have not been investigated. Therefore, we used a modified "Levine" model of HI to determine the effects of EGCG. Wistar rats were treated with either 0.9% saline or 50 mg/kg EGCG daily for 1 day and 1 h before HI induction and for a further 2 days post-HI. At 26-days-old, both groups underwent permanent left common carotid artery occlusion and exposure to 8% oxygen/92% nitrogen atmosphere for 1 h. Histological assessment showed that EGCG significantly reduced infarct volume (38.0+/-16.4 mm(3)) in comparison to HI + saline (99.6+/-15.6 mm(3)). In addition, EGCG significantly reduced total (622.6+/-85.8 pmol L-[(3)H]citrulline/30 min/mg protein) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) activity (143.2+/-77.3 pmol L-[(3)H]citrulline/30 min/mg protein) in comparison to HI+saline controls (996.6+/-113.6 and 329.7+/-59.6 pmol L-[(3)H]citrulline/30 min/mg protein for total NOS and iNOS activity, respectively). Western blot analysis demonstrated that iNOS protein expression was also reduced. In contrast, EGCG significantly increased endothelial and neuronal NOS protein expression compared with HI controls. EGCG also significantly preserved mitochondrial energetics (complex I-V) and citrate synthase activity. This study demonstrates that the neuroprotective effects of EGCG are, in part, due to modulation of NOS isoforms and preservation of mitochondrial complex activity and integrity. We therefore conclude that the in vivo neuroprotective effects of EGCG are not exclusively due to its antioxidant effects but involve more complex signal transduction mechanisms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Otago, PO Box 913, Dunedin, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Brad A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Sutherland
authors.forename: Odette M
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.forename: Andrew N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Clarkson
authors.forename: David N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.forename: Ivan A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Sammut
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Appleton
mesh_terms: D000154:Aconitate Hydratase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001119:Arginase / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000201:enzymology; D002392:Catechin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002950:Citrate (si)-Synthase / Q000378:metabolism; D042967:Electron Transport Complex I / Q000378:metabolism; D042963:Electron Transport Complex II / Q000378:metabolism; D014450:Electron Transport Complex III / Q000378:metabolism; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV / Q000378:metabolism; D020925:Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D025261:Mitochondrial Proton-Translocating ATPases / Q000378:metabolism; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; D009573:Nitrites / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species
chemical_list: D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D009573:Nitrites; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; C021983:complex V (mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation system); D002392:Catechin; C045651:epigallocatechin gallate; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; C496322:Nos1 protein, rat; C496318:Nos2 protein, rat; C496316:Nos3 protein, rat; D042963:Electron Transport Complex II; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV; D002950:Citrate (si)-Synthase; D001119:Arginase; D025261:Mitochondrial Proton-Translocating ATPases; D000154:Aconitate Hydratase; D042967:Electron Transport Complex I; D014450:Electron Transport Complex III