title: Neurogenic neuroprotection: clinical perspectives.
abstract: Neurogenic neuroprotection is a promising approach for treating patients with ischemic brain lesions. In rats, stimulation of the deep brain nuclei has been shown to reduce the volume of focal infarction. In this context, protection of neural tissue can be a rapid intervention that has a relatively long-lasting effect, making fastigial nucleus stimulation (FNS) a potentially valuable method for clinical application. Although the mechanisms of neuroprotection induced by FNS remain partially unclear, important data have been presented in the last two decades. A 1-h electrical FNS reduced, by 59%, infarctions triggered by permanent occlusion of the middle cerebral artery in Fisher rats. The acute effect of electrical FNS is likely mediated by a prolonged opening of potassium channels, and the sustained effect appears to be linked to inhibition of the apoptotic cascade. A better understanding of the neuronal circuitry underlying neurogenic neuroprotection may contribute to improving neurological outcomes in ischemic brain insults.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil. mauricio.mandel@einstein.br
authors.forename: Mauricio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mandel
authors.forename: Erich
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Talamoni Fonoff
authors.forename: Edson
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bor-Seng-Shu
authors.forename: Manoel Jacobsen
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Teixeira
authors.forename: Gerson
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chadi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D020520:Brain Infarction / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002529:Cerebellar Nuclei / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000502:physiology; D046690:Deep Brain Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D020244:Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery / Q000150:complications; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000502:physiology; D010296:Parietal Lobe / Q000502:physiology