A small dose of apomorphine counteracts the deleterious effects of middle cerebral artery occlusion in different models.

A small dose of apomorphine counteracts the deleterious effects of middle cerebral artery occlusion in different models. Arch Ital Biol. 2017 Sep 01;155(3):110-117 Authors: Mastroiacovo F, Gaglione A, Busceti CL, Ryskalin L, Bozza G, Nicoletti F, Orzi F, Fornai F Abstract The present manuscript investigates in two animal species by using two different experimental models of middle cerebral artery occlusion (permanent and transient), the neuroprotective effects of the dopamine receptor agonist apomorphine. These effects were evaluated by measuring the infarct volume and by counting muscle strength at different time points following the ischemic insult. Apomorphine at the dose of 3 mg/Kg when adminsitered at two hours following the occlusion of the middle cerebral artery was able to reduce significantly the infarct volume in the cortex of mice and the ischemic volume of the basal ganglia perfused by the perforant branches of the middle cerebral artery in the rat. In this latter case the behavioral evaluation (i.e. muscle strength) was preserved most effectively in the contralateral side at 24 and 72 hours. The present findings contribute to foster the concept that DA agonists might be useful in the treatment of cerebral ischemia. At the same time the behavioral improvement induced by DA administration following basal ganglia ischemia may be interpreted as the effects of an authentic disease modifying effect rather than a simple symtoma...
Source: Archives Italiennes de Biologie - Category: Neuroscience Tags: Arch Ital Biol Source Type: research