Journal of cerebral blood flow and metabolism : official journal of the International Society of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism
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J. Cereb. Blood Flow Metab. · Jan 2002
Antioxidant Tempol enhances hypothermic cerebral preservation during prolonged cardiac arrest in dogs.
The authors are systematically exploring pharmacologic preservation for temporarily unresuscitable exsanguination cardiac arrest in dogs. They hypothesized that the antioxidant Tempol improves cerebral outcome when added to aortic saline flush at the start of cardiac arrest. In study A, no drug (n = 8), Tempol 150 mg/kg (n = 4), or Tempol 300 mg/kg (n = 4) was added to 25 mL/kg saline flush at 24 degrees C (achieving mild cerebral hypothermia) at the start of 20-minute cardiac arrest. ⋯ Single- and double-strand DNA damage, nitrotyrosine immunostaining, total antioxidant reserve, and ascorbate acid levels were similar between groups, and thiol levels were decreased after Tempol in study B. The authors conclude that when added to aortic saline flush at the start of prolonged cardiac arrest, the antioxidant Tempol can enhance mild or moderate hypothermic cerebral preservation in terms of improved functional outcome. The mechanisms involved in this beneficial effect need further clarification.