Norihiko Basugi

The Effect of Indomethacin on Cortical Specific Gravity During Regional Ischemia and Recirculation

Accumulation of free fatty acids (FFAs) and subsequent per-oxidation has been shown during cerebral ischemia followed by re-circulation20. It has been suggested that autooxidation of free fatty acids (free radical reactions) and enzymatic peroxidation of fatty acids (arachidonate cascade) are involved in ischemic brain damage. Gaudet et al5 have shown an increase of prostaglandin synthesis in cerebral tissue of Mongolian gerbils following ischemia. However, the extent of brain edema and the prostaglandin levels did not correlate, six hours after unilateral carotid occlusion. Peroxidation of free fatty acids is considered maximal at the beginning of tissue reoxygenation after initiation of recirculation6. Therefore, the role of this process on development of brain damage should more clearly be studied by a recirculation model. The effect of indomethacin on postischemic cerebral perfusion has been investigated by Hallenbeck et al7. In the present study, the role of the arachidonate cascade in ischemic brain edema was analyzed by measurements of cortical specific gravity together with local cortical blood flow.