title: Neuroprotection by pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) in reversible middle cerebral artery occlusion in the adult rat.
abstract: Pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) is a naturally occurring redox cofactor that acts as an essential nutrient, antioxidant, and redox modulator. It has previously been reported to reduce infarct size in 7-day-old rat pups with an in vivo cerebral hypoxia/ischemia model (Jensen et al., 1994). In this study, we tested whether improvement is found in both behavioral measures of protection and by histological measures of infarcted tissue at 72 h after reversible middle cerebral artery occlusion (rMCAo) in adult rats. Two-hour rMCAo was induced in adult rats using the intraluminal suture technique. PQQ (10, 3, and 1 mg/kg) was given once by intravenous injection at the initiation, or 3 h after the initiation, of 2 h rMCAo. Neurobehavioral deficits were evaluated daily for 3 days followed by infarct volumes measurements by 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining. PQQ at 10 mg/kg infused at the initiation, or 3 h after the initiation, of rMCAo was effective in reducing cerebral infarct volumes measured 72 h later. At 3 h after ischemia, a dose of 3 mg/kg significantly reduced infarct volume compared to vehicle-treated animals, but 1 mg/kg was ineffective. Neurobehavioral scores were also significantly better in the PQQ-treated group compared to the vehicle controls when PQQ was given at 10 and 3 mg/kg, but not at 1 mg/kg. Thus, PQQ is neuroprotective when given as a single administration at least 3 h after initiation of rMCAo. These data indicate that PQQ may be a useful neuroprotectant in stroke therapy.
authors.affiliation: Neural and Vascular Biology, Ordway Research Institute, 150 New Scotland Avenue, Albany, NY 12208, USA.
authors.forename: Yonghua
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Paul J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Feustel
authors.forename: Harold K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Kimelberg
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D020520:Brain Infarction / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D019610:Cytoprotection / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D020244:Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009410:Nerve Degeneration / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D045542:PQQ Cofactor / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D045542:PQQ Cofactor