Ching-Ping Chang

Beneficial effect of agmatine on brain apoptosis, astrogliosis, and edema after rat transient cerebral ischemia

BackgroundAlthough agmatine therapy in a mouse model of transient focal cerebral ischemia is highly protective against neurological injury, the mechanisms underlying the protective effects of agmatine are not fully elucidated. This study aimed to investigate the effects of agmatine on brain apoptosis, astrogliosis and edema in the rats with transient cerebral ischemia.MethodsFollowing surgical induction of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) for 90 min, agmatine (100 mg/kg, i.p.) was injected 5 min after beginning of reperfusion and again once daily for the next 3 post-operative days. Four days after reperfusion, both motor and proprioception functions were assessed and then all rats were sacrificed for determination of brain infarct volume (2, 3, 5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining), apoptosis (TUNEL staining), edema (both cerebral water content and amounts of aquaporin-4 positive cells), gliosis (glial fibrillary acidic protein [GFAP]-positive cells), and neurotoxicity (inducible nitric oxide synthase [iNOS] expression).ResultsThe results showed that agmatine treatment was found to accelerate recovery of motor (from 55 degrees to 62 degrees) and proprioception (from 54% maximal possible effect to 10% maximal possible effect) deficits and to prevent brain infarction (from 370 mm3 to 50 mm3), gliosis (from 80 GFAP-positive cells to 30 GFAP-positive cells), edema (cerebral water contents decreased from 82.5% to 79.4%; AQP4 positive cells decreased from 140 to 84 per section), apoptosis (neuronal apoptotic cells decreased from 100 to 20 per section), and neurotoxicity (iNOS expression cells decreased from 64 to 7 per section) during MCAO ischemic injury in rats.ConclusionsThe data suggest that agmatine may improve outcomes of transient cerebral ischemia in rats by reducing brain apoptosis, astrogliosis and edema.

Brain Cooling-Stimulated Angiogenesis and Neurogenesis Attenuated Traumatic Brain Injury in Rats

BACKGROUND Although brain cooling has been reported to be effective in improving the outcome after traumatic brain injury (TBI) in rats, the mechanisms of brain cooling-induced neuroprotective actions remain unclear. This study was to test whether angiogenesis and neurogenesis attenuating TBI could be brain cooling stimulated. METHODS Anesthetized rats, immediately after the onset of TBI, were divided into two groups and given the brain cooling (infusing 5 mL of 4°C saline via the external jugular vein) or no brain cooling (infusing 5 mL of 37°C saline via the external jugular vein). RESULTS Brain cooling without interference with the core temperature in rats significantly attenuated TBI-induced cerebral infarction (90 mm³ vs. 250 mm³) and motor (61 degrees vs. 57 degrees maximal angle) and proprioceptive (14% vs. 42% maximal possible effect) function deficits, significantly reduced TBI-induced neuronal (24 vs. 62 neuronal-specific nuclear [NeuN]-TUNEL double-positive cells) and glial (5 vs. 35 GFAP-TUNEL double-positive cells) apoptosis (increased TUNEL-positive and caspase-3-positive cells), neuronal loss (102 vs. 66 NeuN-positive cells), and gliosis (40 vs. 66 GFAP-positive cells; 66 vs. 89 Iba1-positive cells), and significantly promoted angiogenesis (5-bromodeoxyuridine [BrdU]/endothelial cells vs. 1-BrdU/endothelial cell; 58 vs. 31 vascular endothelial growth factor-positive cells), and neurogenesis (33 vs. 14 BrdU/NeuN positive cells). CONCLUSIONS Brain cooling-stimulated angiogenesis and neurogenesis attenuated a fluid percussion TBI in rats.

Agmatine-promoted angiogenesis, neurogenesis, and inhibition of gliosis-reduced traumatic brain injury in rats.

BACKGROUND The mechanisms of agmatine-induced neuroprotective effects in traumatic brain injury (TBI) remain unclear. This study was to test whether inhibition of gliosis, angiogenesis, and neurogenesis attenuating TBI could be agmatine stimulated. METHODS Anesthetized rats were randomly assigned to sham-operated group, TBI rats treated with saline (1 mL/kg, intraperitoneally), or TBI rats treated with agmatine (50 mg/kg, intraperitoneally). Saline or agmatine was injected 5 minutes after TBI and again once daily for the next 3 postoperative days. RESULTS Agmatine therapy in rats significantly attenuated TBI-induced motor function deficits (62° vs. 52° maximal angle) and cerebral infarction (88 mm vs. 216 mm), significantly reduced TBI-induced neuronal (9 NeuN-TUNEL double positive cells vs. 60 NeuN-TUNEL double positive cells) and glial (2 GFAP-TUNEL double positive cells vs. 20 GFAP-TUNEL double positive cells) apoptosis (increased TUNEL-positive and caspase-3-positive cells), neuronal loss (82 NeuN-positive cells vs. 60 NeuN-positive cells), gliosis (35 GFAP-positive cells vs. 72 GFAP-positive cells; 60 Iba1-positive cells vs. 90 Iba1-positive cells), and neurotoxicity (30 n-NOS-positive cells vs. 90 n-NOS-positive cells; 35 3-NT-positive cells vs. 90 3-NT-positive cells), and significantly promoted angiogenesis (3 BrdU/endothelial cells vs. 0.5 BrdU/endothelial cells; 50 vascular endothelial growth factor positive cells vs. 20 vascular endothelial growth factor-positive cells) and neurogenesis (27 BrdU/NeuN positive cells vs. 15 BrdU/NeuN positive cells). CONCLUSIONS Resultantly, agmatine therapy may attenuate TBI in rats via promoting angiogenesis, neurogenesis, and inhibition of gliosis.

EFFECT OF BRAIN COOLING ON BRAIN ISCHEMIA AND DAMAGE MARKERS AFTER FLUID PERCUSSION BRAIN INJURY IN RATS

Although systemic cooling had recently been reported as effective in improving the neurological outcome after traumatic brain injury, several problems are associated with whole-body cooling. The present study was conducted to test the effectiveness of brain cooling without interference with the core temperature in rats after fluid percussion traumatic brain injury (TBI). Brain dialysates ischemia (e.g., glutamate and lactate-to-pyruvate ratio) and injury (e.g., glycerol) markers before and after TBI were measured in rats with mild brain cooling (33°C) and in the sham control group. Brain cooling was accomplished by infusion of 5 mL cold saline via the external jugular vein under general anesthesia. The weight loss was determined by the difference between the first and third day of body weight after TBI. The maximum grip angle in an inclined plane was measured to determine motor performance, whereas the percentage of maximal possible effect was used to measure blockade of proprioception. The triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining procedures were used for cerebral infarction assay. As compared with those of the sham-operated controls, the animals with TBI had higher values of extracellular levels of glutamate, lactate-to-pyruvate ratio, and glycerol in brain and intracranial pressure, but lower values of cerebral perfusion pressure. Brain cooling adopted immediately after TBI significantly attenuated the TBI-induced increased cerebral ischemia and injury markers, intracranial hypertension, and cerebral hypoperfusion. In addition, the TBI-induced cerebral infarction, motor and proprioception deficits, and body weight loss evaluated 3 days after TBI were significantly attenuated by brain cooling. We successfully demonstrate that brain cooling causes attenuation of TBI in rats by reducing cerebral ischemia and injury resulting from intracranial hypertension and cerebral hypoperfusion. Because jugular venipuncture is an easy procedure frequently used in the emergency department, for preservation of brain function, jugular infusion of cold saline may be useful in resuscitation for trauma patients.

Attenuating brain edema, hippocampal oxidative stress, and cognitive dysfunction in rats using hyperbaric oxygen preconditioning during simulated high-altitude exposure.

BACKGROUND: We assessed whether hyperbaric oxygen preconditioning (HBO2P) in rats induced heat shock protein (HSP)-70 and whether HSP-70 antibody (Ab) preconditioning attenuates high altitude exposure (HAE)-induced brain edema, hippocampal oxidative stress, and cognitive dysfunction. METHODS: Rats were randomly divided into five groups: the non-HBO2P + non-HAE group, the HBO2P + non-HAE group, the non-HBO2P + HAE group, the HBO2P + HAE group, and the HBO2P + HSP-70 Abs + HAE group. The HBO2P groups were given 100% O2 at 2.0 absolute atmospheres for 1 hour per day for 5 consecutive days. The HAE groups were exposed to simulated HAE (9.7% O2 at 0.47 absolute atmospheres of 6,000 m) in a hypobaric chamber for 3 days. Polyclonal rabbit anti-mouse HSP-70-neutralizing Abs were intravenously injected 24 hours before the HAE experiments. Immediately after returning to normal atmosphere, the rats were given cognitive performance tests, overdosed with a general anesthetic, and then their brains were excised en bloc for water content measurements and biochemical evaluation and analysis. RESULTS: Non-HBO2P group rats displayed cognitive deficits, brain edema, and hippocampal oxidative stress (evidenced by increased toxic oxidizing radicals [e.g., nitric oxide metabolites and hydroxyl radicals], increased pro-oxidant enzymes [e.g., malondialdehyde and oxidized glutathione] but decreased antioxidant enzymes [e.g., reduced glutathione, glutathione peroxide, glutathione reductase, and superoxide dismutase]) in HAE. HBO2P induced HSP-70 overexpression in the hippocampus and significantly attenuated HAE-induced brain edema, cognitive deficits, and hippocampal oxidative stress. The beneficial effects of HBO2P were significantly reduced by HSP-70 Ab preconditioning. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that high-altitude cerebral edema, cognitive deficit, and hippocampal oxidative stress can be prevented by HSP-70-mediated HBO2P in rats.

Attenuation of Brain Nitrostative and Oxidative Damage by Brain Cooling during Experimental Traumatic Brain Injury

The aim of the present study was to ascertain whether brain cooling causes attenuation of traumatic brain injury by reducing brain nitrostative and oxidative damage. Brain cooling was accomplished by infusion of 5 mL of 4°C saline over 5 minutes via the external jugular vein. Immediately after the onset of traumatic brain injury, rats were randomized into two groups and given 37°C or 4°C normal saline. Another group of rats were used as sham operated controls. Behavioral and biochemical assessments were conducted on 72 hours after brain injury or sham operation. As compared to those of the sham-operated controls, the 37°C saline-treated brain injured animals displayed motor deficits, higher cerebral contusion volume and incidence, higher oxidative damage (e.g., lower values of cerebral superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase, but higher values of cerebral malondialdehyde), and higher nitrostative damage (e.g., higher values of neuronal nitric oxide synthase and 3-nitrotyrosine). All the motor deficits and brain nitrostative and oxidative damage were significantly reduced by retrograde perfusion of 4°C saline via the jugular vein. Our data suggest that brain cooling may improve the outcomes of traumatic brain injury in rats by reducing brain nitrostative and oxidative damage.

High-altitude pulmonary edema can be prevented by heat shock protein 70-mediated hyperbaric oxygen preconditioning.

BACKGROUND The primary goal of this study was to test whether high-altitude exposure (HAE of 9.7% O2 at 0.47 absolute atmosphere [ATA] for 3 days) was capable of increasing lung edema, neutrophil, and hemorrhage scores as well as decreasing lung levels of both aquaporin 1 (AQP1) and AQP5 proteins and messenger RNA (mRNA) expression in rats, with a secondary goal to test whether a preinduction of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) by hyperbaric oxygen preconditioning (HBO2P of 100% O2 at 2.0 ATA for 1 hour per day for 5 consecutive days) attenuated the HAE-induced increased lung injury scores and decreased lung AQP1 and AQP5 protein and mRNA expressions. METHODS Rats were assigned to (1) non-HBO2P (21% O2 at 1.0 ATA) + non-HAE (21% O2 at 1.0 ATA) group; (2) non-HBO2P + HAE group; (3) HBO2P + HAE group; and HBO2P + HSP70 antibodies (Ab) + HAE group. For the HSP70 Ab group, a neutralizing HSP70 Ab was injected intravenously at 24 hours before HAE. All the physiologic and biochemical parameters were obtained at the end of HAE or the equivalent period of non-HAE. The cardiovascular and blood gas parameters were monitored for all experiments. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed to determine proinflammatory cytokines (interleukin 6, interleukin 1&bgr;, and tumor necrosis factor &agr;). Parts of the lung were excised for myeloperoxidase activity measurement, whereas the rest was collected for lung damage score assessments. AQP1 and AQP5 protein and mRAN expressions were also determined in the lung tissues. RESULTS In the non-HBO2P + HAE group, the animals displayed higher values of lung myeloperoxidase activity, BAL proinflammatory cytokines, lung water weight, and acute lung injury scores compared with those of the non-HBO2P + non-HAE controls. In contrast, the non-HBO2P + HAE group rats had lower values of lung AQP1 and AQP5 protein and mRNA expressions, mean arterial pressure, heart rate, SO2, Paco2, HCO3−, and pH compared with those of non-HBO2P + non-HAE group rats. The increased acute lung edema, neutrophil, and hemorrhage scores; increased BAL levels of proinflammatory cytokines; decreased lung AQP1 and AQP5 protein and mRNA expressions; and hypotension, bradycardia, hypoxia, and acidosis caused by HAE were all significantly attenuated by HBO2P. CONCLUSION Our data indicate that HBO2P may attenuate high-altitude acute lung injury by a preinduction of lung HSP70 in rats.

Attenuating heatstroke-induced acute lung inflammation, edema, and injury in rats by exercise preconditioning.

BACKGROUND This study aimed to ascertain whether heat-induced acute lung edema, inflammation, and ischemic damage can be affected by heat shock protein 70 (HSP-70)–mediated exercise preconditioning (EP) in rats. METHODS Wistar rats were assigned to one of the following four groups: the non-EP + nonheated group, the non-EP + heated group, the EP + heated group, and the EP + HSP-70 antibodies + heated group. EP groups of animals were subjected to a protocol of running on a treadmill for 30 minutes at 20 m/min, 30 minutes at 30 m/min, and 60 minutes at 30 m/min after 1, 2, and 3 weeks of training, respectively. Heated group of animals, under general anesthesia, were put in a folded heating pad of 43°C for 68 minutes. Then, the heated animals were allowed to recover at room temperature. HSP-70 antibodies were injected intravenously 24 hours before heat exposure. RESULTS As compared with the non heated + non-EP rats, the heated + non-EP rats had significantly higher scores of alveolar edema, neutrophil infiltration, and hemorrhage, acute pleurisy, and increased bronchoalveolar fluid levels of proinflammatory cytokines and ischemic and oxidative damage markers. EP, in addition to inducing overexpression of HSP-70 in lung tissues, significantly attenuated heat-induced acute pulmonary edema, inflammation, and ischemic and oxidative damage in the lungs. HSP-70 antibodies, in addition to reducing HSP-70 expression in the lungs, significantly attenuated the beneficial effects of EP in reducing acute lung inflammation and injury. CONCLUSION EP may attenuate the occurrence of pulmonary edema, inflammation, as well as ischemic and oxidative damage caused by heatstroke by up-regulating HSP-70 in the lungs.