Effect of Ibuprofen on the Changes of Polyamine Level and Neuronal Cell Damage after Transient Global Ischemia in Gerbil

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: In brain ischemia, increased arachidonic acid metabolism can play important roles in neuronal dam-age. Ibuprofen was reported to have a protective role against neuronal damage in focal brain ischemia and reperfusion. The present study was designed to investigate whether ibuprofen can inhibit the global ischemia-induced neuronal dam-age and changes of polyamine (PA) level which is known to related to the neuronal damage, breakdown of blood brain barrier, and brain edema. METHODS: Male Mongolian gerbils were used in this study. Transient global ischemia was induced by occlusion of bilateral common carotid arteries for 3 min with microclips. Ibuprofen was administered imme-diately after ischemia. The animals were sacrificed one day after ischemia for PA measurement and sacrificed 5 days after ischemia for histological evaluation. Histological examination was performed by counting surviving neuronal cells in one mm of CA1 area in dorsal hippocampus. RESULTS: Cerebral cortex and hippocampal putrescine(PU) levels in vehicle-treated ischemic group significantly increased comparing to sham-operated animals and the increase of PU was attenuated by ibuprofen administration (50 mg/kg). Hippocampal spermine level decreased significantly after ischemia. Hippocampal neuronal cell damage in CA1 area was markedly observed in vehicle-treated animals compared to sham operated animals. Ibuprofen administration at the dose of 50 mg/kg significantly inhibited hippocampal CA1 neuronal damage compared to vehicle-treated animals. CONCLUSIONS: Ibuprofen attenuates PA response following transient glob-al ischemia and may have putative neuroprotective effect against neuronal damage induced by global ischemia.