title: Neuroprotection achieved in the ischaemic rat cortex with L-kynurenine sulphate.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Neuroscience, University of Szeged, POB 533, H-6701 Szeged, Hungary.
authors.forename: Hermina
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Robotka
authors.forename: Katalin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sas
authors.forename: Márta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Agoston
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rózsa
authors.forename: Gábor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Szénási
authors.forename: Gábor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gigler
authors.forename: László
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vécsei
authors.forename: József
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Toldi
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D005452:Fluoresceins; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D027361:Organic Anion Transporters; D009930:Organic Chemicals; C435731:fluoro jade; D007737:Kynurenine; D011339:Probenecid