Effects of xenon on ischemic spinal cord injury in rabbits: a comparison with propofol

Background: Xenon has been shown to reduce cellular injury after cerebral ischemia. However, the neuroprotective effects of xenon on ischemic spinal cord are unknown. The authors compared the effects of xenon and propofol on spinal cord injury following spinal cord ischemia in rabbits. Methods: Thirty‐two male New Zealand white rabbits were randomly assigned to one of three groups. In the xenon and propofol group, 70% of xenon and 0.8 mg/kg/min of propofol were administered 30 min before an aortic occlusion and maintained until the end of the procedure. The aortic occlusion was performed for 15 min. In the sham group, the aorta was not occluded. After an assessment of the hind limb motor function using the Tarlov score (0=paraplegia, 4=normal) at 48 h after reperfusion, gray and white matter injuries were evaluated based on the number of normal neurons in the anterior spinal cord and the percentage areas of vacuolation in the white matter, respectively. Results: In the xenon and propofol groups, the Tarlov score and the number of normal neurons were significantly lower than those in the sham group, whereas the percentage areas of vacuolation were similar among the three groups. There were no significant differences in Tarlov scores and the number of normal neurons between the xenon and the propofol groups. Conclusion: The results indicated that 70% of xenon has no additional neuroprotective effects on ischemic spinal cord injury in rabbits compared with propofol.     

Neuroprotective effect of epidural electrical stimulation against ischemic spinal cord injury in rats: electrical preconditioning

BACKGROUND: Electroconvulsion therapy is likely to serve as an effective preconditioning stimulus for inducing tolerance to ischemic brain injury. The current study examines whether electrical stimuli on the spinal cord is also capable of inducing tolerance to ischemic spinal cord injury by transient aortic occlusion. METHODS: Spinal cord ischemia was induced by occlusion of the descending thoracic aorta in combination with maintaining systemic hypotension (40 mmHg) during the procedure. Animals implanted with epidural electrodes were divided into four groups according to electrical stimulation and sham. Two groups consisted of rapid preconditioning (RE group, n = 8) and sham procedure (RC group, n = 8) 30 min before 9 min of spinal cord ischemia. In the two groups that underwent delayed preconditioning, rats were exposed to 9 min of aortic occlusion 24 h after either pretreatment with epidural electrical stimulation (DE group, n = 8) or sham (DC group, n = 8). In addition, rats were exposed to 6-11 min of spinal cord ischemia at 30 min or 24 h after epidural electrical stimulation or sham stimulation. The group P50 represents the duration of spinal cord ischemia associated with 50% probability of resultant paraplegia. RESULTS: Pretreatment with electrical stimulation in the DE group but not the RE group protected the spinal cord against ischemia, and this stimulation prolonged the P50 by approximately 15.0% in the DE group compared with the DC group. CONCLUSIONS: Although the optimal setting for this electrical preconditioning should be determined in future studies, the results suggest that epidural electrical stimulation will be a useful approach to provide spinal protection against ischemia.     

Experimental study of the protection of ischemic preconditioning to spinal cord ischemia.

BACKGROUND: Since the advent of ischemic preconditioning in myocardium, more and more attention has been paid to ischemic preconditioning in the central nervous system (CNS). This study was designed to evaluate the protective effect of ischemic preconditioning on spinal cord ischemia. METHODS: Interventional neuroradiological techniques were used to induce spinal cord ischemia in a rabbit model. Hydrogen electrode technique was used to determine the regional blood flow of the spinal cord. Catecholamines and their metabolites were measured by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLA). Spinal cord evoked potentials were recorded to show spinal cord neurofunction. RESULTS: After 5 minutes ischemic preconditioning with 20 minutes reperfusion, the regional spinal cord blood flow (rSCBF) was increased, as may be seen by the slight increase of catecholamine, especially NE. This is in positive proportion to the cAMP and indicates the enhancement of the metabolic activities of the spinal cord. After 30 minutes of irreversible ischemia, the great increase in catecholamine caused vascular spasm, endotheliocyte fissure, multiple hemorrhagic suffusion, and necrosis, which would injure the spinal cord as a result. The slight increase of the rSCBF and the maintenance of the rSCBF after irreversible ischemia may enhance the protection of ischemic preconditioning to the spinal cord neurofunction, which was proved by spinal cord evoked potentials (SCEPs). CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed that 5 minutes of ischemic preconditioning can increase the rSCBF, enhance the tolerance of the spinal cord to irreversible ischemia, and protect the neurofunction of the spinal cord. The biological mechanism of the protective effect of ischemic preconditioning to spinal cord ischemia should be further studied.     

The brain erythropoietin system and its potential for therapeutic exploitation in brain disease

The discovery of the broad neuroprotective potential of erythropoietin (EPO), an endogenous hematopoietic growth factor, has opened new therapeutic avenues in the treatment of brain diseases. EPO expression in the brain is induced by hypoxia. Practically all brain cells are capable of production and release of EPO and expression of its receptor. EPO exerts multifaceted protective effects on brain cells. It protects neuronal cells from noxious stimuli such as hypoxia, excess glutamate, serum deprivation or kainic acid exposure in vitro by targeting a variety of mechanisms and involves neuronal, glial and endothelial cell functions. In rodent models of ischemic stroke, EPO reduces infarct volume and improves functional outcome, but beneficial effects have also been observed in animal models of subarachnoid hemorrhage, intracerebral hemorrhage, traumatic brain injury, and spinal cord injury. EPO has a convenient therapeutic window upon ischemic stroke and favorable pharmacokinetics. Results from first therapeutic trials in humans are promising, but will need to be validated in larger trials. The safety profile and effectiveness of EPO in a wide variety of neurologic disease models make EPO a candidate compound for a potential first-line therapeutic for neurologic emergencies.     

Neuroprotective Effect of Epidural Electrical Stimulation against Ischemic Spinal Cord Injury in Rats: Electrical Preconditioning

Background: Electroconvulsion therapy is likely to serve as an effective preconditioning stimulus for inducing tolerance to ischemic brain injury. The current study examines whether electrical stimuli on the spinal cord is also capable of inducing tolerance to ischemic spinal cord injury by transient aortic occlusion.

Methods: Spinal cord ischemia was induced by occlusion of the descending thoracic aorta in combination with maintaining systemic hypotension (40 mmHg) during the procedure. Animals implanted with epidural electrodes were divided into four groups according to electrical stimulation and sham. Two groups consisted of rapid preconditioning (RE group, n = 8) and sham procedure (RC group, n = 8) 30 min before 9 min of spinal cord ischemia. In the two groups that underwent delayed preconditioning, rats were exposed to 9 min of aortic occlusion 24 h after either pretreatment with epidural electrical stimulation (DE group, n = 8) or sham (DC group, n = 8). In addition, rats were exposed to 6-11 min of spinal cord ischemia at 30 min or 24 h after epidural electrical stimulation or sham stimulation. The group P50 represents the duration of spinal cord ischemia associated with 50% probability of resultant paraplegia.

Results: Pretreatment with electrical stimulation in the DE group but not the RE group protected the spinal cord against ischemia, and this stimulation prolonged the P50 by approximately 15.0% in the DE group compared with the DC group.     

Immediate ischemic preconditioning based on somatosensory evoked potentials seems to prevent spinal cord injury following descending thoracic aorta cross-clamping.

OBJECTIve: Delayed ischemic preconditioning has demonstrated neuroprotective effects in spinal cord ischemia. We investigated the effects of immediate ischemic preconditioning based on somatosensory evoked potentials monitoring in a model of spinal cord injury due descending thoracic aorta occlusion in dogs. METHODS: Twenty-one dogs were submitted to spinal cord ischemia induced by descending thoracic aorta cross-clamping for 45 min. Control group underwent only the aortic cross-clamping (n=7), group A underwent one cycle of ischemic preconditioning (n=7) and group B underwent three equal cycles of ischemic preconditioning (n=7), immediately before the aortic cross-clamping. Ischemic preconditioning cycles were determined by somatosensory evoked potentials monitoring. Neurologic evaluation was performed according to the Tarlov score at 72 h of follow-up. The animals were then sacrificed and the spinal cord harvested for histopathology. RESULTS: Aortic pressures before and after the occluded segment were similar in the three groups. Ischemic preconditioning periods corresponded to a mean ischemic time of 3+/-1 min and a mean recovery time of 7+/-2 min. Severe paraplegia was observed in three animals in Control group, in four in group A and in none in group B. Tarlov scores of group B were significantly better in comparison to the Control group (P=0.036). Histopathologic examination showed severe neuronal necrosis in the thoracic and lumbar gray matter in animals who presented paraplegia. CONCLUSIONS: Immediate repetitive ischemic preconditioning based on somatosensory evoked potentials monitoring seems to protect spinal cord during descending aorta cross-clamping, reducing paraplegia incidence.     

不同高压氧预处理方案对兔脊髓缺血再灌注损伤的影响

目的 探讨不同高压氧预处理方案对兔脊髓缺血再灌注损伤的影响.方法 新西兰大白兔45只,月龄4～5月,体重2.0～2.5 kg,随机分为5组:假手术组(S组,n=5)开腹剥离左肾动脉下段腹主动脉但不阻断血流,20 min后关腹;脊髓缺血再灌注组(IR组,n=10)采用左肾动脉下段腹主动脉阻断法建立脊髓缺血再灌注损伤模型,缺血20 min后恢复灌注;不同方案高压氧预处理组(H_(1～3)组,n=10)分别接受连续5 d(H_1组)、10 d(H_2组)或20 d(H_3组)高压氧预处理(2.5 ATA,吸入氧浓度100%),1h/d,末次高压氧预处理结束后24 h时,建立脊髓缺血再灌注模型.再灌注48 h时,采用修正Tarlov评分,评价后肢运动功能.然后取L_5脊髓节段,分别行HE、TUNEL和nuoro-Jade B染色,计数脊髓正常神经元、凋亡神经元和变性神经元.结果 与S组比较,IR组后肢运动功能评分和脊髓前角正常神经元计数降低(P<0.01);与IR组比较,H_1组和H_2组后肢运动功能评分和脊髓前角正常神经元计数升高,凋亡神经元计数和变性神经元计数降低(JP<0.01),H_3组各指标差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);H_1组和h_2组各指标比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);与H_1组和H_2组比较,H_3组后肢运动功能评分和脊髓前角正常神经元计数降低,凋亡神经元计数和变性神经元计数升高(P<0.01).结论 连续5 d或10 d高压氧预处理(2.5 ATA,吸入氧浓度100%)可减轻脊髓缺血再灌注损伤;而连续20 d高压氧预处理无神经保护作用.     

Anesthetics and brain protection

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: There is a considerable risk of cerebral ischemia during anesthesia and surgery. Anesthetic agents have been shown to have a profound effect on the pathophysiology of cerebral ischemia. The present review provides a brief historical review and details new information about the anesthetic effects on the ischemic brain. RECENT FINDINGS: Although anesthetics have been shown to reduce ischemic cerebral injury, the durability of this neuroprotection has been questioned. Recent data indicate that, under the right circumstances, anesthetic neuroprotection can be sustained for at least 2-4 weeks; the durability of this protection is dependent upon the experimental model, control of physiologic parameters and the assurance of the adequacy of reperfusion. In addition, volatile anesthetics have been shown to accelerate postischemic neurogenesis; this suggests that anesthetics may enhance the endogenous reparative processes in the injured brain. SUMMARY: The available data indicate that anesthetics can provide long-term durable protection against ischemic injury that is mild to moderate in severity. Experimental data do not provide support for the premise that anesthetics reduce injury when the ischemic injury is severe.     

Pharmacologic neuroprotection in experimental spinal cord ischemia: a systematic review

Various surgical procedures may cause temporary interruption of spinal cord blood supply and may result in irreversible ischemic injury and neurological deficits. The cascade of events that leads to neuronal death following ischemia may be amenable to pharmacological manipulations that aim to increase the tolerable duration of ischemia. Many agents have been evaluated in experimental spinal cord ischemia (SCI). In order to investigate whether an agent is available that justifies clinical evaluation, the literature on pharmacological neuroprotection in experimental SCI was systematically reviewed to assess the neuroprotective efficacy of the various agents. In addition, the strength of the evidence for neuroprotection was investigated by analyzing the methodology. The authors used a systematic review to conduct this evaluation. The included studies were analyzed for neuroprotection and methodology. In order to be able to compare the various agents for neuroprotective efficacy, relative risks and confidence intervals were calculated from the data in the results sections. A total of 103 studies were included. Seventy-nine different agents were tested. Only 14 of the agents tested did not afford protection at all. A large variation was observed in the experimental models to produce SCI. This variation limited comparison of the individual agents. In 48 studies involving 31 single agents, the relative risks and confidence intervals could be calculated. An analysis of the methodology revealed poor temperature management and lack of statistical power in the majority of the 103 studies. The results suggest that numerous agents may protect the spinal cord from transient ischemia. However, poor temperature management and lack of statistical power severely weakened the evidence. Consequently, clinical evaluation of pharmacological neuroprotection in surgical procedures that carry a risk of ischemic spinal cord damage is not justified on the basis of this study.     

Potential role of neuroprotective agents in the treatment of patients with acute ischemic stroke

Opinion statement Currently, intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator is the only US Food and Drug Administration-approved therapy for acute ischemic stroke. Although efficacious, its usefulness is limited, mainly because of the very limited time window for its administration. Neuroprotective treatments are therapies that block the cellular, biochemical, and metabolic elaboration of injury during or after exposure to ischemia, and have a potential role in ameliorating brain injury in patients with acute ischemic stroke. More than 50 neuroprotective agents have reached randomized human clinical trials in focal ischemic stroke, but none has been unequivocally proven efficacious, despite successful preceding animal studies. The failed neuroprotective trials of the past have greatly increased understanding of the fundamental biology of ischemic brain injury and have laid a strong foundation for future advance. Moreover, the recent favorable results of human clinical trials of hypothermia in human cardiac arrest and global brain ischemia have validated the general concept of neuroprotection for ischemic brain injury. Recent innovations in strategies of preclinical drug development and clinical trial design that rectify past defects hold great promise for neuroprotective investigation, including novel approaches to accelerating time to initiation of experimental treatment, use of outcome measures sensitive to treatment effects, and trial testing of combination therapies rather than single agents alone. Although no neuroprotective agent is of proven benefit for focal ischemic stroke, several currently available interventions have shown promising results in preliminary trials and may be considered for cautious, off-label use in acute stroke, including hypothermia, magnesium sulfate, citicoline, albumin, and erythropoietin. Overall, the prospects for safe and effective neuroprotective therapies to improve stroke outcome remain promising.     

Morphine preconditions Purkinje cells against cell death under in vitro simulated ischemia-reperfusion conditions

BACKGROUND: Morphine pretreatment via activation of delta1-opioid receptors induces cardioprotection. In this study, the authors determined whether morphine preconditioning induces ischemic tolerance in neurons. METHODS: Cerebellar brain slices from adult Sprague-Dawley rats were incubated with morphine at 0.1-10 microM in the presence or absence of various antagonists for 30 min. They were then kept in morphine- and antagonist-free buffer for 30 min before they were subjected to simulated ischemia (oxygen-glucose deprivation) for 20 min. After being recovered in oxygenated artificial cerebrospinal fluid for 5 h, they were fixed for morphologic examination to determine the percentage of undamaged Purkinje cells. RESULTS: The survival rate of Purkinje cells was significantly higher in slices preconditioned with morphine (> or = 0.3 microM) before the oxygen-glucose deprivation (57 +/- 4% at 0.3 microM morphine) than that of the oxygen-glucose deprivation alone (39 +/- 3%, P < 0.05). This morphine preconditioning-induced neuroprotection was abolished by naloxone, a non-type-selective opioid receptor antagonist, by naltrindole, a selective delta-opioid receptor antagonist, or by 7-benzylidenenaltrexone, a selective delta1-opioid receptor antagonist. However, the effects were not blocked by the mu-, kappa-, or delta2-opioid receptor antagonists, beta-funaltrexamine, nor-binaltorphimine, or naltriben, respectively. Morphine preconditioning-induced neuroprotection was partially blocked by the selective mitochondrial adenosine triphosphate-sensitive potassium channel antagonist, 5-hydroxydecanoate, or the mitochondrial electron transport inhibitor, myxothiazol. None of the inhibitors used in this study alone affected the simulated ischemia-induced neuronal death. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that morphine preconditioning is neuroprotective. This neuroprotection may be delta1-opioid receptor dependent and may involve mitochondrial adenosine triphosphate-sensitive potassium channel activation and free radical production. Because morphine is a commonly used analgesic, morphine preconditioning may be explored further for potential clinical use to reduce ischemic brain injury.     

重组人促红细胞生成素对大鼠脊髓损伤后白细胞介素-10表达的影响及意义

目的　探讨重组人促红细胞生成素 (rHuEPO)对大鼠脊髓损伤后白细胞介素 10 (IL 10 )表达的影响。方法　SD大鼠 10 2只 ,随机分为 4组 ,采用改良Allen脊髓损伤打击模型 ,以逆转录 -聚合酶链反应(RT PCR)法测定伤段脊髓组织IL 10mRNA的表达情况。结果　正常脊髓组织内存在IL 10mRNA的表达 ;脊髓损伤后IL 10mRNA表达逐渐增强 ,在伤后 16 8h达高峰 (本实验的最后观察点 ) ;脊髓损伤后 30min注射rHuEPO能明显上调损伤脊髓组织内IL 10mRNA的表达。结论　脊髓损伤后IL 10mRNA表达逐渐增强 ;rHuEPO通过上调IL 10mRNA的表达 ,对脊髓继发性损伤可能有保护作用。     

Spinales und paraspinales Kollateralnetzwerk

Extensive thoracic and thoracoabdominal aortic repair remains one of the most challenging operations in cardiovascular surgery and is still associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Perioperative paraplegia due to ischemic spinal cord injury remains one of most dreaded complications in aortic surgery. Despite the clinical implementation of several neuroprotective strategies the incidence of ischemic spinal cord injury during thoracic and thoracoabdominal aortic repair remains high. However, definitive knowledge of the spinal cord vasculature, the feeding arterial branches and the underlying physiology is imperative to allow successful development of effective neuroprotective strategies during aortic surgery. Recent experimental and clinical data on spinal cord protection has resulted in the development of the collateral network concept that currently challenges the classical theory on spinal cord blood supply by the Adamkiewicz artery. However, this new theory of an extensive intraspinal and paraspinal collateral network may allow the development of new spinal cord protective strategies. This article discusses recent experimental and clinical studies regarding the collateral network concept of arterial spinal cord blood supply and gives an overview on the neuroprotective strategies currently used during aortic surgery.     

促红细胞生成素在大鼠脊髓缺血再灌注损伤中的表达及其意义

目的:观察促红细胞生成素(EPO)在大鼠脊髓缺血再灌注损伤(SCII)中的表达和重组人促红细胞生成素(rhuEPO)预处理对再灌注损伤脊髓神经细胞的作用。方法:将W ister大鼠分为正常组、假手术组、rhuEPO处理组和生理盐水对照组;rhuEPO处理组和生理盐水对照组于术前3h腹腔注射rhuEPO和生理盐水,制备大鼠脊髓缺血再灌注损伤模型。以免疫组化和W estern blot法检测脊髓组织中EPO的表达变化;以原位末端脱氧核糖核苷酸转移酶介导dUTP标记法(TUNEL法)检测细胞的凋亡情况。结果:EPO在无损伤脊髓中即有少量的表达,SCII后8h表达显著上调,于12、24h(12h与24h组比较差异无显著性意义,P>0.05)达高峰,伤后3d表达逐渐下调,5d仍保持较高水平。rhuEPO处理组SCII后8h、12h及24h时神经细胞凋亡水平明显低于生理盐水对照组,差异有显著性意义(P<0.01)。结论:在脊髓缺血再灌注损伤中EPO呈现时序性表达变化,可能是机体内源性神经保护的机制之一;EPO预处理能明显抑制SCII后神经细胞的凋亡。     

Electrical preconditioning attenuates progressive necrosis and cavitation following spinal cord injury

This study evaluates the influence of preconditioning and subsequent electrical stimulation on the formation of primary and secondary lesions following spinal cord injury in rats. The dorsal surface of the spinal cord at the T7 level was stimulated 24 h before right-side hemisection (500 Hz, 10 pulses/train, at an inter-train interval of 10 sec for 2 h). Stimulation was again administered immediately after injury and then every 24 h for 7 days. Preconditioning electrical stimulation of the spinal cord activated reactive astrocytes, then significantly attenuated edema, progressive necrosis, and cavitation, especially in the secondary cavity lesions (24 h, 1 week, and 3 weeks post-injury). Upregulation of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and vimentin immunoreactivity, a measure of reactive astrocytic response, were increased at 1 week after injury in the rats treated with electrical stimulation. These results suggest that preconditioning with electrical stimulation prevents the formation of secondary lesions after spinal cord injury. This beneficial effect may be related to the ability of electrical stimulation to attenuate trauma-induced cellular cascades.     

挥发性麻醉药对缺血/再灌注肺损伤的保护机制

挥发性麻醉药对肺的作用目前尚有争议,但其抑制炎症反应的效应抗缺血/再灌注(I/R)损伤的保护性效应已在心肌、脑、肝、肾脏中得到证实.现就挥发性麻醉药对肺泡毛细血管的通透性、炎症因子、中性粒细胞的聚集及黏附分子的表达等的影响阐述挥发性麻醉药的肺保护的作用及机制.     

Perioperative cerebral ischemia and the possibility of neuroprotection by inhalational anesthetics

Deteriorated neurological outcome is not rare after major surgeries. With aging of the surgical population in Japan, an increasing frequency of perioperative cerebral ischemia is expected. To avoid neurological deterioration after surgery and general anesthesia, especially in high-risk patients, it is important to provide appropriate CNS-oriented anesthesia management. Controlling factors such as cerebral perfusion pressure, arterial blood gases, blood glucose concentration and body temperature may influence brain metabolism and neurological outcome. Inhalational anesthetics may also play an important role in perioperative neurological management, because numerous studies have demonstrated some degree of neuroprotective effect with halothane, sevoflurane, desflurane and isoflurane. Among these inhalational anesthetics, isoflurane has been most extensively studied regarding neuroprotection against cerebral ischemic insult. Although no clinical outcome trials have been performed, both in vivo and in vitro studies have consistently shown that the isoflurane provides neuroprotection. However, it is also suggested that factors such as sympathetic reactivity, brain temperature, anesthetic dosage, timing of anesthetic administration, and co-administration of nitrous oxide might affect the neuroprotective effect of isoflurane.     

Donor heart preservation

Heart transplantation is a common procedure for patients with severe heart failure and shortage of donor organs is a significant problem even in Europe and USA. We, anesthesiologists, contribute to transplantation by anesthetic management of a donor and it is essential to maintain cardiac function until the organ harvest for successful organ transplantation. Since cardiac dysfunction occurrs following brain death, it is clinically important to find some interventions to maintain the cardiac function or to delay cardiac deterioration following brain death. We investigated the cardiac function following experimental brain death in rats. Experimental brain death was induced by inflating intracranial balloon. Ejection fraction and dP/dt max significantly decreased earlier than significant blood pressure reduction after brain death. In addition, myocardial sensitization to epinephrine was enhanced following brain death. Preconditioning is a unique phenomenon to prevent cardiac function from ischemic insult. Volatile anesthetics, including sevoflurane and isoflurane, have similar effects in preconditioning. We expect volatile anesthetics to improve cardiac function following brain death due to preconditioning effect.