Neuroprotection achieved in the ischaemic rat cortex with L-kynurenine sulphate.
L-kynurenine is a metabolic precursor of kynurenic acid, which is one of the few known endogenous N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor inhibitors. In contrast with kynurenic acid, L-kynurenine is transported across the blood-brain barrier, and it may therefore come into consideration as a therapeutic agent in certain neurobiological disorders, e.g. ischaemia-induced events. The present study evaluated the effect of L-kynurenine administration (300 mg/kg i.p.) on the global ischaemic brain cortex both pre- and post-ischemic intervention. The statistical evaluation revealed that L-kynurenine administration beneficially decreased the number of neurones injured per mm(2) in the cortex, not only in the pre-treated animals, but also in those which received L-kynurenine after the ischaemic insult. It is concluded that even the post-traumatic administration of L-kynurenine may be of substantial therapeutic benefit in the treatment of global brain ischaemia. This is the first histological proof of the neuroprotective effect achieved by the post-traumatic administration of L-kynurenine in the global ischaemic cortex.
Robotka
Hermina
H
Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Neuroscience, University of Szeged, POB 533, H-6701 Szeged, Hungary.
Sas
Katalin
K
Agoston
Márta
M
Rózsa
Eva
E
Szénási
Gábor
G
Gigler
Gábor
G
Vécsei
László
L
Toldi
József
J
D000818:Animals; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000473:pathology*; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000187:drug effects; D005452:Fluoresceins; D007737:Kynurenine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D027361:Organic Anion Transporters / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D011339:Probenecid / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014711:Vertebral Artery / Q000502:physiology
D005452:Fluoresceins; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D027361:Organic Anion Transporters; D009930:Organic Chemicals; C435731:fluoro jade; D007737:Kynurenine; D011339:Probenecid