Journal of cerebral blood flow and metabolism : official journal of the International Society of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism
-
J. Cereb. Blood Flow Metab. · Jul 2002
Hypothermic reperfusion after cardiac arrest augments brain-derived neurotrophic factor activation.
Induction of mild hypothermia improves neurologic outcome after global cerebral ischemia. This study measured levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and nerve growth factor (NGF) in hippocampal tissue of rats after resuscitation from 8 minutes of normothermic, asphyxial cardiac arrest. After resuscitation, rats were maintained either at normal temperature (37 degrees C) or cooled to mild hypothermia (33 degrees C, beginning 60 minutes after resuscitation). ⋯ Increased BDNF levels were correlated with activation of the extracellularly regulated kinase (ERK), a downstream element in the signal transduction cascade induced by BDNF. In contrast to the many deleterious processes during ischemia and reperfusion that are inhibited by induced hypothermia, increasing BDNF levels is a potentially restorative process that is augmented. Increased activation of BDNF signaling is a possible mechanism by which mild hypothermia is able to reduce the neuronal damage typically occurring after cardiac arrest.