title: Dodecafluoropentane emulsion delays and reduces MRI markers of infarction in a rat stroke model: a preliminary report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dodecafluoropentane emulsion (DDFPe), an oxygen transport agent, has been shown to reduce infarct volume in animal models of acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Our study assesses the effect of DDFPe on MRI markers of infarct evolution in the early hours after vascular occlusion in a rat AIS model. We hypothesized that DDFPe will delay the development of MRI markers of AIS and/or reduce the extent of infarction.
  
  
  METHODS
  Permanent, unilateral surgical occlusion of the middle cerebral and common carotid arteries was performed in control (n=4) and treatment (n = 10) rats. The treatment group received 1 IV dose of 2% w/v DDFPe at 0.6 mL/kg at 1 hour post-occlusion versus none. Diffusion-weighted (DWI) and inversion recovery (IR) MRI sequences were obtained over the 4 hours following occlusion. Infarct extent was quantified by number of abnormal MRI slices per sequence for each group and time point. Student's T-test was applied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  DDFPe-treated rats demonstrated reduced infarct extent versus controls over combined time points on IR at 5.43 ± 0.40 (mean ± standard error) abnormal slices vs. 7.38 ± 0.58 (P = 0.01) and on DWI at 5.21 ± 0.54 vs. 9.00 ± 0.95 (P < 0.01). Development of abnormal MRI signal was delayed in the treatment group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DDFPe delays and reduces MRI markers of AIS in the early hours following vascular occlusion in a rat stroke model. Further investigation of DDFPe as a neuroprotectant is warranted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Electronic address: fitzgeraldryant@uams.edu.
authors.forename: R T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Fitzgerald
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ou
authors.affiliation: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, College of Medicine.
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Nix
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Arthur
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.
authors.forename: A T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Skinner
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Borrelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.
authors.forename: W C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Culp
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D020520:Brain Infarction / Q000473:pathology; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000473:pathology; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000473:pathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004655:Emulsions; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D020768:Middle Cerebral Artery / Q000473:pathology; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000737:chemistry; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020521:Stroke / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010420:Pentanes
chemical_list: D004655:Emulsions; D005466:Fluorocarbons; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; C008806:perfluoropentane; D010420:Pentanes
keywords: 7T; Acute stroke therapy; DDFPe; Ischemic stroke; Neuroprotection