Diffusion tensor imaging of the hippocampus reflects the severity of hippocampal injury induced by global cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury

At present,predicting the severity of brain injury caused by global cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury(GCI/RI)is a clinical problem.After such an injury,clinical indicators that can directly reflect neurological dysfunction are lacking.The change in hippocampal microstructure is the key to memory formation and consolidation.Diffusion tensor imaging is a highly sensitive tool for visualizing injury to hippocampal microstructure.Although hippocampal microstructure,brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF),and tropomyosin-related kinase B(Trk B)levels are closely related to nerve injury and the repair process after GCI/RI,whether these indicators can reflect the severity of such hippocampal injury remains unknown.To address this issue,we established rat models of GCI/RI using the four-vessel occlusion method.Diffusion tensor imaging parameters,BDNF,and Trk B levels were correlated with modified neurological severity scores.The results revealed that after GCI/RI,while neurological function was not related to BDNF and Trk B levels,it was related to hippocampal fractional anisotropy.These findings suggest that hippocampal fractional anisotropy can reflect the severity of hippocampal injury after global GCI/RI.The study was approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of Capital Medical University,China(approval No.AEEI-2015-139)on November 9,2015.

Neuroprotection by salubrinal treatment in global cerebral ischemia

Most common cerebrovascular accidents （CVAs） result from the occlusion of a blood vessel and are called ischemic stroke. The interruption of the blood flow reduces the oxygen and glucose levels in the neural pareuchyma, which in turn decreases the energy of the cells and compromises their homeostasis. This condition has to be reverted for cell survival. One of the homeostatic processes impaired by cerebral ischemia is protein folding in the endoplasmic reticulum （ER） lumen where unfolded proteins are accumulated （Degracia and Monti, 2004）. This situation, known as ER stress, elicits the so called unfolded protein response （UPR）,

Nerve growth factor downregulates c-jun mRNA and Caspase-3 in striate cortex of rats after transient global cerebral ischemia/reperfusion

BACKGROUND： Immediate early gene （lEG） c-jun is a sensitive marker for functional status of nerve cells. Caspase-3 is a cysteine protease, which is a critical regulator of apoptosis. The effect of exogenous nerve growth factor （NGF） on the expression of c-jun mRNA and Caspase-3 protein in striate cortex of rats with transient global cerebral ischemia/reperfusion （IR） is unclear. OBJECTIVE： To study the protective effect of exogenous NGF on the brain of rats with transient globa cerebral IR and its effecting pathway by observing the expression of c-jun mRNA and Caspase-3 protein. DESIGN： Randomized controlled animal trial SETTING： Department of Neural Anatomy, Institute of Brain, China Medical University MATERIALS：Eighteen healthy male SD rats of clean grade, aged 1 to 3 months, with body mass of 250 to 300 g, were involved in this study. NGF was provided by Dalian Svate Pharmaceutical Co.,Ltd. c-jun in situ hybridization detection kit, Caspase-3 antibody and SABC kit were purchased from Boster Biotechnology Co.. Ltd. METHODS： This trial was carried out in the Department of Neural Anatomy, Institute of Brain, China Medical University during September 2003 to April 2005. （1） Experimental animals were randomized into three groups with 6 in each： sham-operation group, IR group and NGF group.（2）After the rats were anesthetized, the bilateral common carotid arteries and right external carotid arteries of rats were bluntly dissected and bilateral common carotid arteries were clamped for 30 minutes with bulldog clamps. Reperfusion began after buldog clamps were removed. Normal saline of lmL and NGF （1×10^6 U/L） of 1 mL was injected into the common carotid artery of rats via right external carotid arteries in the IR group and NGF group respectively. The injection was conducted within 30 minutes, and then the right external carotid arteries were ligated. In the sham-operation group, occlusion of bilateral common carotid arteries and administration of drugs were omitted.GAll the rats were executed by decollation at 3 hours after modeling. The animals were fixed with phosphate buffer solution （PBS, 0.1 mol/L） containing 40 g/L polyformaldehyde, their brains were quickly removed. The coronal section tissue mass containing striate cortex about 3 mm before line between two ears was taken and made into successive frozen sections.（4）The expression of c-jun mRNA and Caspase-3 protein in striate cortex of global cerebral ischemia rats were detected with in situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry and microscope image analysis. （5）t test was used for comparing the difference of the measurement data. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES：Comparison of the expression of lEG c-jun mRNA and Caspase-3 protein in striate cortex of brain of rats in each group. RESULTS：All the 18 SD rats were involved in the analysis of results. The c-jun mRNA and Caspase-3 protein positive reaction cells were found brown yellow in the striate cortex of rats, and most of them were in lamellas Ⅱ and Ⅲ, mainly presenting round or oval. The expression of c-jun mRNA and Caspase-3 protein in sham-operation group was weak or negative. The average gray value of c-jun mRNA and Caspase-3 protein in the IR group was significantly lower than that in the sham-operation group （49.52±4.13 vs. 95.48± 5.28; 74.73±4.29 vs. 162.38±9.16,P 〈 0.01）. The average gray value of c-jun mRNA and Caspase-3 protein in the NGF group was significantly higher than that in the IR group （63.96±4.25 vs.49.52±4.13; 83.98± 4.13 vs. 74.73±4.29, P〈 0.05）. CONCLUSION： NGF can protect ischemic neurons by down-regulating the expression of c-jun mRNA and Caspase-3 protein in striate cortex of global cerebral ischemia rats.

A protease-activated receptor 1 antagonist protects against global cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury after asphyxial cardiac arrest in rabbits

Cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury is partially mediated by thrombin, which causes brain damage through protease-activated receptor 1（PAR1）. However, the role and mechanisms underlying the effects of PAR1 activation require further elucidation. Therefore, the present study investigated the effects of the PAR1 antagonist SCH79797 in a rabbit model of global cerebral ischemia induced by cardiac arrest. SCH79797 was intravenously administered 10 minutes after the model was established. Forty-eight hours later, compared with those administered saline, rabbits receiving SCH79797 showed markedly decreased neuronal damage as assessed by serum neuron specific enolase levels and less neurological dysfunction as determined using cerebral performance category scores. Additionally, in the hippocampus, cell apoptosis, polymorphonuclear cell infiltration, and c-Jun levels were decreased, whereas extracellular signal-regulated kinase phosphorylation levels were increased. All of these changes were inhibited by the intravenous administration of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt pathway inhibitor LY29004（3 mg/kg） 10 minutes before the SCH79797 intervention. These findings suggest that SCH79797 mitigates brain injury via anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects, possibly by modulating the extracellular signal-regulated kinase, c-Jun N-terminal kinase/c-Jun and phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt pathways.

Dynamic expression of cerebral cortex and hippocampal glutamate transporters in a rat model of chest compression-induced global cerebral ischemia

The present study established a rat model of global cerebral ischemia induced by chest compression for six minutes to dynamically observe expressional changes of three glutamate transporters in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus. After 24 hours of ischemia, expression of glutamate transporter-1 significantly decreased in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus, which was accompanied by neuronal necrosis. At 7 days post-ischemia, expression of excitatory amino acid carrier 1 decreased in the hippocampal CA1 region and cortex, and was accompanied by apoptosis Expression of glutamate-aspartate transporter remained unchanged at 6 hours 7 days after ischemia. These results suggested that glutamate transporter levels were altered at different periods of cerebral ischemia.

Agmatine reduces nitric oxide synthase expression and peroxynitrite formation in the cerebral cortex in a rat model of transient global cerebral ischemia

Agmatine, an analog of L-arginine, is an endogenous substance synthesized by arginine decarboxylase, which has been shown to possess neuroprotective effects following brain ischemia. Nitric oxide is generated by sequential oxidation of the guanidinium group in L-arginine, and agmatine might protect the brain from ischemic injury by interfering with nitric oxide signaling. This study investigated the effects of agmatine on cerebral cortex neuronal injury following transient global cerebral ischemia and also detected nitric oxide synthase expression and peroxynitrite formation. Results demonstrated that intraperitoneal injection of agmatine in global cerebral ischemia/reperfusion alleviated ischemia/reperfusion-induced cerebral cortical cortex neuronal injury and cellular apoptosis, decreased neuronal and inducible nitric oxide synthase expression at 24, 48, and 72 hours following global cerebral ischemia and reperfusion, and greatly inhibited nitrotyrosine levels, which reflect the amount of peroxynitrite formed. These findings indicated that agmatine alleviates cerebral cortex neuronal injury following global cerebral ischemia and decreases nitric oxide synthase expression and peroxynitrite formation following ischemia/repeffusion.

Hypothermia selectively protects the anterior forebrain mesocircuit during global cerebral ischemia

Hypothermia is an important protective strategy against global cerebral ischemia following cardiac arrest.However,the mechanisms of hypothermia underlying the changes in different regions and connections of the brain have not been fully elucidated.This study aims to identify the metabolic nodes and connection integrity of specific brain regions in rats with global cerebral ischemia that are most affected by hypothermia treatment.18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography was used to quantitatively determine glucose metabolism in different brain regions in a rat model of global cerebral ischemia established at 31–33℃.Diffusion tensor imaging was also used to reconstruct and explore the brain connections involved.The results showed that,compared with the model rats established at 37–37.5℃,the rat models of global cerebral ischemia established at 31–33℃had smaller hypometabolic regions in the thalamus and primary sensory areas and sustained no obvious thalamic injury.Hypothermia selectively preserved the integrity of the anterior forebrain mesocircuit,exhibiting protective effects on the brain during the global cerebral ischemia.The study was approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee at Capital Medical University(approval No.XW-AD318-97-019)on December 15,2019.

Ischemic preconditioning partially suppresses and postpones integrin α_Vβ_3 mRNA expression following transient global cerebral ischemia in C57BL/6 mice

Previous studies of integrin αvβ3 have focused on ischemic brain damage, although the role of integrin αvβ3 in ischemic preconditioning （IP） has rarely been reported. The present study analyzed the effects of IP on integrin αvβ3 mRNA expression following cerebral ischemia through the use of hematoxylin-eosin staining and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction techniques. Integrin avid3 mRNA expression in the ischemia group peaked at 24 hours after ischemia-reperfusion. In the IP ＋ ischemia group, integrin αvβ3 mRNA expression increased after 24 hours, but remained significantly less than the ischemia group, and expression continued to increase until 7 days after ischemiaJreperfusion. These results demonstrate that IP effectively attenuated upregulation of integrin αvβ3 mRNA expression at 24 hours after ischemia.

Cross tolerance: a tread to decipher the code of endogenous global cerebral resistance

A cell is a house to myriad biochemical reactions composed in a symphony of various pathways,both survival and apoptotic.Apoptosis is of fundamental significance to an organ by replacing weary and senile cells with juvenile cells.

Effect of Chinese Patent Medicine Naodesheng against Repeated Transient Global Cerebral Ischemia in Mice

Objective To investigate the therapeutic effect and possible mechanisms of Chinese ptent medicine Naodesheng（NDS） on repeated transient global cerebral ischemia（GCI） in mice. Methods The repeated transient GCI mice were induced by bilateral carotid arteries ligation, and were randomly divided into model group, Sham group without arteries ligation, NDS groups（1.25 and 2.5 g/kg） and positive control（vinpocetine 3.1 mg/kg, VP） group. After oral administration once daily for successive 7 d, the transient GCI was induced. The degree of neurological deficit, histological changes, and neurons loss in the hippocampus were evaluated. In order to investigate the possible mechanisms, the oxidative stress and inflammatory factor were measured after 24 h of GCI. Comparison among multiple groups was performed with one-way analysis of variance（ANOVA）. Results NDS could significantly alleviate the neurological function impairment, histological injury, and neurons loss, increase the superoxide dismutase（SOD） activity, decrease the content of malondialdehyde（MDA）, and reduce inflammatory factor in the ischemic brain tissue. Conclusion NDS could significantly reduce brain injury induced by global ischemia, and its mechanism is closely associated with anti-oxidation and anti-inflammation.

The protective effect of W026B on global cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury model in rats

Cerebral ischemia seriously affects the quality of life and health of human worldwide.W026B is a newly synthesized lignan derivative that has a protective effect on the focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion model,while it is unclear whether W026B has a cerebral protective effect on the model of global cerebral ischemia/reperfusion(GCI/R).In this study,we investigated the protective effect of W026B on the four-vessel occlusion GCI/R model.The results showed that W026B obviously increased the survival rate of rats during 7 d after GCI/R and significantly improved neurological deficits within 7 d after GCI/R.It evidently enhanced the number of survival neurons in the hippocampus of GCI/R rats.Furthermore,W026B notably lowered the level of ROS,and increased the activity of SOD in the hippocampus of GCI/R rats.Moreover,it also decreased the expression of NF-κB p65 and the level of IL-6 apparently.In addition,W026B evidently lowered the activity of caspase-3.In conclusion,this study firstly proves that W026B has the protective effect on GCI/R rats.Its cerebral protective effect maybe related to the inhibition of oxidative stress,inflammatory response,and cell apoptosis during GCI/R.These results provide new evidence with the protective effect of W026B on cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury.

Tea polyphenols increase X-ray repair cross-complementing protein 1 and apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease/redox factor-1 expression in the hippocampus of rats during cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury

Recent studies have shown that tea polyphenols can cross the blood-brain barrier, inhibit apoptosis and play a neuroprotective role against cerebral ischemia. Furthermore, tea polyphenols can decrease DNA damage caused by free radicals. We hypothesized that tea polyphenols repair DNA damage and inhibit neuronal apoptosis during global cerebral ischemia/reperfusion. To test this hypothesis, we employed a rat model of global cerebral ischemia/reperfusion. We demonstrated that intraperitoneal injection of tea polyphenols immediately after reperfusion significantly reduced apoptosis in the hippocampal CA1 region; this effect started 6 hours following reperfusion. Immunohistochemical staining showed that tea polyphenols could reverse the ischemia/reperfusion-induced reduction in the expression of DNA repair proteins, X-ray repair cross-complementing protein 1 and apudnic/apyrimidinic endonuclease/redox factor-1 starting at 2 hours. Both effects lasted at least 72 hours. These experimental findings suggest that tea polyphenols promote DNA damage repair and protect against apoptosis in the brain.

Ischemic preconditioning protects against ischemic brain injury

In this study, we hypothesized that an increase in integrin αβand its co-activator vascular endothelial growth factor play important neuroprotective roles in ischemic injury. We performed ischemic preconditioning with bilateral common carotid artery occlusion for 5 minutes in C57BL/6J mice. This was followed by ischemic injury with bilateral common carotid artery occlusion for 30 minutes. The time interval between ischemic preconditioning and lethal ischemia was 48 hours. Histopathological analysis showed that ischemic preconditioning substantially diminished damage to neurons in the hippocampus 7 days after ischemia. Evans Blue dye assay showed that ischemic preconditioning reduced damage to the blood-brain barrier 24 hours after ischemia. This demonstrates the neuroprotective effect of ischemic preconditioning. Western blot assay revealed a significant reduction in protein levels of integrin αβ, vascular endothelial growth factor and its receptor in mice given ischemic preconditioning compared with mice not given ischemic preconditioning 24 hours after ischemia. These findings suggest that the neuroprotective effect of ischemic preconditioning is associated with lower integrin αβand vascular endothelial growth factor levels in the brain following ischemia.

The key target of neuroprotection after the onset of ischemic stroke: secretory pathway Ca^(2+)-ATPase 1

The regulatory mechanisms of cytoplasmic Ca2＋ after myocardial infarction-induced Ca2＋ overload involve secretory pathway Ca2＋-ATPase 1 and the Golgi apparatus and are well understood. However, the effect of Golgi apparatus on Ca2＋ overload after cerebral ischemia and reperfusion remains unclear. Four-vessel occlusion rats were used as animal models of cerebral ischemia. The expression of secretory pathway Ca2＋-ATPase 1 in the cortex and hippocampus was detected by immunoblotting, and Ca2＋ concentrations in the cytoplasm and Golgi vesicles were determined. Results showed an overload of cytoplasmic Ca2＋ during ischemia and reperfusion that reached a peak after reperfusion. Levels of Golgi Ca2＋ showed an opposite effect. The expression of Golgi-specific secretory pathway Ca2＋-ATPase 1 in the cortex and hippocampus decreased before ischemia and reperfusion, and increased after reperfusion for 6 hours. This variation was similar to the alteration of calcium in separated Golgi vesicles. These results indicate that the Golgi apparatus participates in the formation and alleviation of calcium overload, and that secretory pathway Ca2＋-ATPase 1 tightly responds to ischemia and reperfusion in nerve cells. Thus, we concluded that secretory pathway Ca2＋-ATPase 1 plays an essential role in cytosolic calcium regulation and its expression can be used as a marker of Golgi stress, responding to cerebral ischemia and reperfusion. The secretory pathway Ca2＋-ATPase 1 can be an important neuroprotective target of ischemic stroke.

Blockade of HCN2 Channels Provides Neuroprotection Against Ischemic Injury via Accelerating Autophagic Degradation in Hippocampal Neurons

In the central nervous system,hyperpolarizationactivated cyclic nucleotide-gated(HCN)channels are essential to maintain normal neuronal function.Recent studies have shown that HCN channels may be involved in the pathological process of ischemic brain injury,but the mechanisms remain unclear.Autophagy is activated in cerebral ischemia,but its role in cell death/survival remains controversial.In this study,our results showed that the HCN channel blocker ZD7288 remarkably decreased the percentage of apoptotic neurons and corrected the excessive autophagy induced by oxygen-glucose deprivation followed by reperfusion(OGD/R)in hippocampal HT22 neurons.Furthermore,in the OGD/R group,p-mTOR,p-ULK1(Ser757),and p62 were significantly decreased,while p-ULK1(Ser317),atg5,and beclin1 were remarkably increased.ZD7288 did not change the expression of p-ULK1(Ser757),ULK1(Ser317),p62,Beclin1,and atg5,which are involved in regulating autophagosome formation.Besides,we found that OGD/R induced a significant increase in Cathepsin D expression,but not LAMP-1.Treatment with ZD7288 at 10μmol/L in the OGD/R group did not change the expression of cathepsin D and LAMP-1.However,chloroquine(CQ),which decreases autophagosome-lysosome fusion,eliminated the correction of excessive autophagy and neuroprotection by ZD7288.Besides,shRNA knockdown of HCN2 channels significantly reduced the accumulation of LC3-Ⅱand increased neuron survival in the OGD/R and transient global cerebral ischemia(TGCI)models,and CQ also eliminated the effects of HCN2-shRNA.Furthermore,we found that the percentage of LC3-positive puncta that co-localized with LAMP-1-positive lysosomes decreased in Con-shRNAtransfected HT22 neurons exposed to OGD/R or CQ.In HCN2-shRNA-transfected HT22 neurons,the percentage of LC3-positive puncta that co-localized with LAMP-1-positive lysosomes increased under OGD/R;however,the percentage was significantly decreased by the addition of CQ to HCN2-shRNA-transfected HT22 neurons.The present results demonstrated that blockade of HCN2 channels provides neuroprotection against OGD/R and TGCI by accelerating autophagic degradation attributable to the promotion of autophagosome and lysosome fusion.