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Zinc ionophores as neuroprotective agents
Author(s) -
Gulyaeva N.,
Stepanichev M.,
Onufriev M.,
Lazareva N.,
Fliss H.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal of neurochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.75
H-Index - 229
eISSN - 1471-4159
pISSN - 0022-3042
DOI - 10.1046/j.1471-4159.85.s2.28.x
Subject(s) - neuroprotection , ischemia , stroke (engine) , pharmacology , neurodegeneration , zinc , medicine , anesthesia , chemistry , mechanical engineering , disease , organic chemistry , engineering
Zinc ionophores, molecules that carry zinc ions across the cell membrane, can decrease apoptosis in animals subjected to experimental heart attack, brain injury, neurodegeneration, and epilepsy. Here we show that zinc ionophores at low μg/kg BW doses have neuroprotective effects in three different stroke models in rodents: focal ischemia models (middle cerebral artery occlusion, MCAO) in mice and rats, and a model of global ischemia (four vessel occlusion, 4VO) in rats. Intravenous, postinjury, administration of zinc ionophores decreased neuronal cell death, the number of TUNEL‐positive cells in the lesioned brain areas, and brain infarct volumes. Zinc ionophores also significantly accelerated functional recovery after MCAO.