Glutamate excitotoxicity mediates neuronal apoptosis after hypothermic circulatory arrest.
BACKGROUND
Prolonged hypothermic circulatory arrest results in neuronal cell death and neurologic injury. We have previously shown that hypothermic circulatory arrest causes both neuronal apoptosis and necrosis in a canine model. Inhibition of neuronal nitric oxide synthase reduced neuronal apoptosis, while glutamate receptor antagonism reduced necrosis in our model. This study was undertaken to determine whether glutamate receptor antagonism reduces nitric oxide formation and neuronal apoptosis after hypothermic circulatory arrest.


METHODS
Sixteen hound dogs underwent 2 hours of circulatory arrest at 18 degrees C and were sacrificed after 8 hours. Group 1 (n = 8) was treated with MK-801, 0.75 mg/kg intravenously prior to arrest followed by 75 microg/kg/hour infusion. Group 2 dogs (n = 8) received vehicle only. Intracerebral levels of excitatory amino acids and citrulline, an equal coproduct of nitric oxide, were measured. Apoptosis, identified by hematoxylin and eosin staining and confirmed by electron microscopy, was blindly scored from 0 (normal) to 100 (severe injury), while nick-end labeling demonstrated DNA fragmentation.


RESULTS
Dogs in groups 1 and 2 had similar intracerebral levels of glutamate. However, MK-801 significantly reduced intracerebral glycine and citrulline levels compared with hypothermic circulatory arrest controls. The MK-801 significantly inhibited apoptosis (7.92 +/- 7.85 vs 62.08 +/- 6.28, group 1 vs group 2, p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Our results showed that glutamate receptor antagonism significantly reduced nitric oxide formation and neuronal apoptosis. We provide evidence that glutamate excitotoxicity mediates neuronal apoptosis in addition to necrosis after hypothermic circulatory arrest. Clinical glutamate receptor antagonists may have therapeutic benefits in ameliorating both types of neurologic injury after hypothermic circulatory arrest.
Tseng
Elaine E
EE
Division of Cardiac Surgery, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland, USA. elaine.tseng@ucsfmedctr.org
Brock
Malcolm V
MV
Lange
Mary S
MS
Troncoso
Juan C
JC
Blue
Mary E
ME
Lowenstein
Charles J
CJ
Johnston
Michael V
MV
Baumgartner
William A
WA
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D050792:Circulatory Arrest, Deep Hypothermia Induced; D002956:Citrulline / Q000378:metabolism; D053938:DNA Fragmentation / Q000187:drug effects; D016291:Dizocilpine Maleate / Q000494:pharmacology; D004285:Dogs; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D018846:Excitatory Amino Acids / Q000502:physiology*; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000502:physiology*; D005998:Glycine / Q000378:metabolism; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D017551:Microdialysis; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009336:Necrosis; D009474:Neurons / Q000473:pathology; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000473:pathology*
D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D018846:Excitatory Amino Acids; D002956:Citrulline; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D016291:Dizocilpine Maleate; D005998:Glycine