title: Role of mitochondrial function in the protective effects of ischaemic postconditioning on ischaemia/reperfusion cerebral damage.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of ischaemic postconditioning on brain injury and mitochondria in focal ischaemia and reperfusion, in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adult male Wistar rats (n = 15 per group) underwent sham surgery, ischaemia (2-h middle cerebral artery occlusion), or ischaemia followed by ischaemic postconditioning (three cycles of 30 s reperfusion/30 s reocclusion). Brain infarction size, neurological function, mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, mitochondrial membrane potential and mitochondrial swelling were evaluated 24 h postsurgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Infarct size was significantly smaller, and neurological function was significantly better, in the ischaemic postconditioning group than in the ischaemia group. Ischaemia resulted in significant increases in mitochondrial ROS production and swelling, and a reduction in mitochondrial membrane potential, all of which were significantly reversed by postconditioning.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The protective role of ischaemic postconditioning in focal ischaemia/reperfusion may be due to decreased mitochondrial ROS production, reduced mitochondrial membrane potential and suppressed mitochondria swelling. Mitochondria are potential targets for new therapies to prevent brain damage caused by ischaemia and reperfusion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Peediatrics, First Bethune Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China.
authors.forename: Jian-min
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Hai-yang
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Xiao-jie
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xungeng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Hong-bo
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Peng-fei
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Ge
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D020244:Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery; D057775:Ischemic Postconditioning / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / Q000502:physiology; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000502:physiology*; D008933:Mitochondrial Swelling / Q000502:physiology; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species
keywords: Ischaemic postconditioning; cerebral ischaemia/reperfusion; mitochondrial integrity