Neuroprotective effects of dexmedetomidine conditioning strategies: Evidences from an in vitro model of cerebral ischemia.

Abstract

AIMS:

Dexmedetomidine is a selective agonist of α2-adrenergic receptors with clinical anesthetic and analgesic properties that has also shown neuroprotective effects on several models of brain injury. Because perioperative stroke and brain damage are frequent causes of death in critical care units, we aimed to investigate neuroprotective properties of dexmedetomidine using an in vitro model of cerebral ischemia.

MAIN METHODS:

Primary mixed rat brain cortical cultures were subjected to oxygen and glucose deprivation and treated with different doses of dexmedetomidine in order to analyze three conditioning strategies: preconditioning, intraconditioning and postconditioning.

KEY FINDINGS:

All dexmedetomidine pre-, intra- and postconditioning treatments showed neuroprotective effects reducing brain cell necrosis, although only preconditioning showed antiapoptotic effects. Dexmedetomidine treatments also reduced IL-6 and TNF-α levels, especially in the preconditioning groups. Oxidative stress was attenuated with all dexmedetomidine preconditioning treatments, but only with the higher dose in the intraconditioning group, and no effects were observed in the postconditioning. All conditioning strategies increased BDNF levels.

SIGNIFICANCE:

Dexmedetomidine-mediated neuroprotective effects in an in vitro model of cerebral ischemia involve the attenuation of inflammation and oxidative stress and the increment of BDNF expression.

• Authors: Raquel Rodríguez-González, Tomás Sobrino, Sonia Veiga, Pablo López, Javier Rodríguez-García, Sonia Veiras del Río, Aurora Baluja, José Castillo, Julián Álvarez
• Journal: Life sciences (Life Sci) Vol. 144 Pg. 162-9 (Jan 01 2016) ISSN: 1879-0631 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 26655164 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Antioxidants
• Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
• Interleukin-6
• Neuroprotective Agents
• Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
• Dexmedetomidine

Topics

• Animals
• Antioxidants (pharmacology)
• Apoptosis (drug effects)
• Brain Ischemia (diagnosis, pathology)
• Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (biosynthesis)
• Cerebral Cortex (drug effects, metabolism)
• Dexmedetomidine (pharmacology)
• In Vitro Techniques
• Interleukin-6 (biosynthesis)
• Ischemic Postconditioning
• Ischemic Preconditioning
• Necrosis
• Neuroprotective Agents (pharmacology)
• Organ Culture Techniques
• Oxidative Stress (drug effects)
• Rats
• Rats, Sprague-Dawley
• Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (biosynthesis)