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Biomedical subjects

W A Pulsinelli

Publications and source records attributed to W A Pulsinelli.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

Uptake of radiolabeled ions in normal and ischemia-damaged brain.

The regional concentrations of nine radiochemicals were measured in rat brain after induction of cerebral ischemia to identify tracers concentrated by brain undergoing selective neuronal necrosis. Transient (30 minute) forebrain ischemia was produced in the rat; 24 hours after cerebral recirculation the radiochemicals were injected intravenously and allowed to circulate for 5 hours. The brain concentrations of the radiochemicals in dissected regions were determined by scintillation counting. Forebrain ischemia of this nature will produce extensive injury to striatal neurons but will spare the great majority of neocortical neurons at 24 hours. The regional concentrations of these radiochemicals varied considerably in both control and ischemic animals. In postischemic animals, 4 radionuclides (63Ni, 99TcO4, 22Na, and [3H]tetracycline) were concentrated in the irreversibly damaged striatum in amounts ranging from 1.4 to 2.4 times greater than in normal tissue. The concentrations of 65Zn, 59Fe, 32PO4, and 147Pm in postischemic brain were similar to or less than those in normal brain. The concentration of [14C]EDTA was increased in injured and uninjured brain of postischemic rats. Autoradiographic analysis of the distribution patterns of some of these ions in normal animals showed that 99TcO4, 22Na, 65Zn, and 59Fe were distributed more uniformly throughout the brain than were 32PO4, 63Ni, and 147Pm. At 24 or 48 hours after ischemia, 63Ni, 99TcO4, and 22Na were preferentially concentrated in the damaged striatum and hippocampus, whereas 65Zn, 59Fe, 32PO4, and 147Pm did not accumulate in irreversibly injured tissue. Of the radiochemicals tested to date, Ni, TcO4, and tetracycline may be useful for diagnosing ischemic brain injury in humans, using positron emission tomography.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Reference and working memory of rats following hippocampal damage induced by transient forebrain ischemia.

Acquisition of reference and working memory was evaluated in an animal model of cerebral ischemia. Rats were subjected to 30 minutes of transient forebrain ischemia, allowed to recover, and then tested for 95 trials on an 8-arm maze with 5 arms baited. During the 95 trials post ischemic (PI) rats made significantly more working and reference errors than controls (p less than 0.05). However, an analysis of the last 20 trials (75-95) showed that while PI rats and control rats had comparable reference memory (p greater than 0.8). PI rats tended to have a persistent working memory deficit compared to controls (p less than 0.06). Subsequent morphologic analysis showed that PI rats had almost complete loss of pyramidal neurons in the anterior CA1 region of the hippocampus, moderate to severe loss in mid-dorsal posterior hippocampus, and less damage to the dorsolateral striatum. These results suggest that the PI animal is a reasonable model for the permanent behavioral impairment and pathologic damage found in some human survivors of cardiac arrest.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Protein synthesis in postischemic rat brain: a two-dimensional electrophoretic analysis.

This study examined the pattern of protein synthesis in the neocortex, caudate-putamen, and the hippocampus following transient forebrain ischemia in rats. The animal model of temporary ischemia used in this study causes permanent damage to vulnerable neurons with a time course of injury that varies from hours (caudate nucleus) to days (hippocampus). To examine the spectrum of proteins synthesized in these regions at 3 and 18 h after recirculation, cerebral proteins were pulse-labeled in vivo by an intravenous injection of [35S]methionine. Newly synthesized (35S-labeled) and constitutive (unlabeled) proteins were analyzed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and fluorography. In all three brain regions, specific proteins underwent preferential synthesis (Mr approximately 27,000, approximately 65,000, approximately 70,000, approximately 110,000), while others showed decreased synthesis (neuron-specific enolase, alpha- and beta-tubulin). There was an early (3 h post ischemia) induction of the Mr approximately 70,000 mammalian "stress" protein; at 18 h post ischemia, its synthesis remained high in the hippocampus but was diminished in the neocortex and had largely subsided in the caudate-putamen. All regions at 18 h showed increased synthesis of an Mr approximately 50,000 protein, tentatively identified as glial fibrillary acidic protein. The results show that temporary forebrain ischemia induces changes in protein synthesis that include features similar to those observed in other eukaryotic cells subjected to injurious stress. These postischemic changes in protein synthesis are qualitatively similar in all brain regions examined despite regional differences in the severity of subsequent neuronal damage. The persistent synthesis of the Mr approximately 70,000 stress protein in the hippocampus, however, may reflect continued metabolic injury long after the ischemic episode has passed.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Selective gene expression in focal cerebral ischemia.

Regional patterns of protein synthesis were examined in rat cortex made ischemic by the occlusion of the right common carotid and middle cerebral arteries. At 2 h of ischemia, proteins were pulse labeled with intracortical injections of a mixture of [3H]leucine, [3H]isoleucine, and [3H]proline. Newly synthesized proteins were analyzed by two-dimensional gel fluorography, and the results correlated with local CBF, measured with [14C]iodoantipyrine as tracer. Small blood flow reductions (CBF = 50-80 ml 100 g-1 min-1) were accompanied by a modest inhibition in synthesis of many proteins and a marked increase in one protein (Mr 27,000). With further reduction in blood flow (CBF = 40 ml 100 g-1 min-1), synthesis became limited to a small group of proteins (Mr 27,000, 34,000, 73,000, 79,000, and actin) including two new polypeptides (Mr 55,000 and 70,000). Severe ischemia (CBF = 15-25 ml 100 g-1 min-1) caused the isoelectric modification of several proteins (Mr 44,000, 55,000, and 70,000) and induced synthesis of another protein (Mr 40,000). Two polypeptides (Mr 27,000 and 70,000) dominated residual protein synthesis in severe ischemia. The changes in protein synthesis induced by different grades of ischemia most likely comprise a variation of the so-called "heat shock" or "stress" response found in all eukaryotic cells subjected to adverse conditions. Since heat shock genes are known to confer partial protection against anoxia and a variety of other noxious insults, their induction may be a factor in limiting the extent of ischemic tissue damage.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Synthesis of heat shock proteins in rat brain cortex after transient ischemia.

Cell-free protein synthesis and two-dimensional gel autoradiography were used to characterize early postischemic protein synthesis in rat neocortex. Severe forebrain ischemia was induced for 30 min (four-vessel occlusion model) and followed by 3 h of recirculation. Polysomes were isolated from the cerebral cortex, translated in vitro in a reticulocyte system, and analyzed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. The translation products of postischemic polysomes included a major new protein family (70 kDa) with multiple isoelectric variants that was found to comigrate with the 68- to 70-kDa "heat shock" protein synthesized from polysomes of hyperthermic rats. Two other stress proteins (93 and 110 kDa) also appeared to be synthesized in increased amounts after ischemia. A complement of proteins that was indistinguishable from that of controls was also synthesized after ischemia, indicating that messenger ribonucleic acid coding for most brain proteins is preserved after ischemia and is bound to polysomes.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Carbonic acid buffer changes during complete brain ischemia.

Simultaneous measurements of tissue PCO2 (PtCO2), interstitial H+ concentration ([H+]o), and tissue lactate content were used to examine changes in interstitial HCO3- concentration ([HCO3-]o) during complete ischemia. In normoglycemic rats (blood glucose of 6-8 mM; neocortical ischemic-induced lactate content 8-12 mmol/kg) [H+]o increased from 7.22 +/- 0.02 to 6.79 +/- 0.02 pH (n = 3). By contrast, in hyperglycemic rats (blood glucose 18-75 mM; ischemic-induced lactate content 19-31 mmol/kg) [H+]o rose by a significantly larger amount to 6.19 +/- 0.02 pH (n = 7). Given that HCO3- is the predominant interstitial H+ buffer, changes in peak PtCO2 show why peak [H+]o were bimodally distributed compared with lactate content. Between 8 and 12 mmol/kg lactate, when peak PtCO2 rose from 99 to 186 Torr but [H+]o was constant at 6.79 pH, calculated [HCO3-]o increased from 11.9 to 21.9 mM. Then after transitional changes, peak PtCO2 and [H+]o remained constant at 389 +/- 9 Torr (n = 7) and 6.19 pH despite the fact that tissue lactate ranged from 19 to 31 mmol/kg lactate, respectively; [HCO3-]o must have remained constant at 12.3 +/- 0.7 mM (n = 7). Since ischemic brain continued to produce another 12 more mmol/kg of lactic acid above 19 mmol/kg lactate without further changes in PtCO2 or [H+]o, H+ and HCO3- must have been heterogeneously compartmented. The continued lactic acid production occurred in a compartment that occupied 36% of neocortical space. This compartment is likely to represent glial cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Glucocorticoids potentiate ischemic injury to neurons: therapeutic implications.

Sustained exposure to glucocorticoids, the adrenocortical stress hormones, is toxic to neurons, and such toxicity appears to play a role in neuron loss during aging. Previous work has shown that glucocorticoids compromise the capacity of neurons to survive a variety of metabolic insults. This report extends those observations by showing that ischemic injury to neurons in rat brain is also potentiated by exposure to high physiological titers of glucocorticoids and is attenuated by adrenalectomy. The synergy between ischemic and glucocorticoid brain injury was seen even when glucocorticoid levels were manipulated after the ischemic insult. Pharmacological interventions that diminish the adrenocortical stress response may improve neurological outcome from stroke or cardiac arrest.

Adrenalectomy↗
PubMed1985

Hydrogen ion buffering during complete brain ischemia.

As a first step to quantify [H+] changes in brain during ischemia we used H+-selective microelectrodes and enzyme fluorometric techniques to describe the relationship between interstitial [H+] ([H+]o) and peak tissue lactate after cardiac arrest. We found a step function relationship between [H+]o and tissue lactate rather than the linear titration expected in a homogeneous protein solution. Within a blood glucose range from 3-7 mM, brain lactate rose from 8-13 mmol/kg along with a rise in [H+]o of 99 +/- 6 nM(0.44 +/- 0.02 pH). At higher blood glucose levels (17-80 mM), brain lactate accumulated to levels of 16-31 mmol/kg; concurrently [H+]o rose by 608 +/- 16 nM (1.07 +/- 0.02 pH). The unchanging level of [H+]o between 8-13 and 16-31 mmol/kg lactate implies that [H+]o is at a steady-state, but not equilibrium with respect to [H+] in other brain compartments. We propose that ion-transport characteristics of astroglia account for the observed relationship of [H+]o to tissue lactate during complete ischemia and suggest that brain infarction develops after plasma membranes in brain cells can no longer transport ions to regulate [H+].

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Delayed neuronal recovery and neuronal death in rat hippocampus following severe cerebral ischemia: possible relationship to abnormalities in neuronal processes.

Mechanisms involved in the postischemic delay in neuronal recovery or death in rat hippocampus were evaluated by light and electron microscopy at 3, 15, 30, and 120 min and 24, 36, 48, and 72 h following severe cerebral ischemia that was produced by permanent occlusion of the vertebral arteries and 30-min occlusion of the common carotid arteries. During the early postischemic period, neurons in the Ca1 and Ca3 regions both showed transient mitochondrial swelling followed by the disaggregation of polyribosomes, decrease in rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER), loss of Golgi apparatus (GA) cisterns, and decrease in GA vesicles . Recovery of these organelles in Ca3 neurons was first noted between 24 and 36 h and was accompanied by a marked proliferation of smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER). Many Ca1 neurons initially recovered between 24 and 36 h, but subsequent cell death at 48-72 h was often preceded by peripheral chromatolysis, constriction and shrinkage of the proximal dendrites, and cytoplasmic dilatation that was continuous with focal expansion of RER cisterns. Because SER accumulates in resistant Ca3 neurons and proximal neuronal processes are damaged in vulnerable Ca1 neurons, we hypothesize that delayed cell recovery or death in vulnerable and resistant postischemic hippocampal neurons is related to abnormalities in neuronal processes.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Sequential development of reversible and irreversible neuronal damage following cerebral ischemia.

The ultrastructure of reversibly injured cortical neurons and irreversibly injured striatal neurons was studied at 3, 15, 30, and 120 minutes (min) and 24 hours (h) following severe cerebral ischemia produced in rats by permanent occlusion of the vertebral arteries and 30 min occlusion of the carotid arteries. Animals meeting the established criterion of unresponsiveness had widespread neuronal death in the dorsolateral striatum, but no permanent damage in the paramedian cortex. Reversible mitochondrial swelling at three min was followed by dissociation of polyribosomes, decrease in rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) profiles, and transformation of Golgi apparatus into large clusters of small vesicles without cisterns in both cortical and striatal neurons. Reaccumulation of RER was seen in cortical neurons by 30-120 min and all cortical neurons appeared normal at 24 h. In contrast, most striatal neurons developed dilatation of the Golgi vesicles by 120 min after reperfusion, followed by progressive cell shrinkage and ischemic cell change. Approximately 10-15% of striatal neurons contained cytoplasmic membranous whorls, some continuous with the plasma membrane. The results suggest that structural abnormalities in the Golgi apparatus and in plasma membranes may participate in functional changes critical to irreversible neuronal injury following cerebral ischemia.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Increased damage after ischemic stroke in patients with hyperglycemia with or without established diabetes mellitus.

Animal experiments employing controlled degrees of cerebral ischemia have demonstrated that elevated blood-brain glucose concentrations greatly enhance the extent and degree of subsequent brain damage. The question of whether or not a similar relationship applies in man was examined by retrospectively segregating patients admitted with the diagnosis of ischemic stroke into diabetic (n = 35) and nondiabetic (n = 72) groups. A separate nondiabetic population with ischemic stroke was prospectively analyzed by dividing patients into those with an admission blood glucose level above (n = 14) or below (n = 17) 120 mg/dl. The neurologic status at discharge was used to stratify outcome as good, fair, or poor in the retrospective study. The ability or inability to return to work was used to separate good and poor outcomes in the prospective study. Neurologic outcome in diabetic patients with stroke was significantly worse (p less than 0.05) than in nondiabetic patients, and the diabetic patients had a greater (p less than 0.05) number of stroke-related deaths. In the prospective study, neurologic outcome also was worse with high blood sugar levels, only 43 percent of the patients with blood glucose values above 120 mg/dl returned to work, whereas 76 percent of those with lower blood sugar values regained employment (p = 0.061).

Aged↗
PubMed1983

Regional energy balance in rat brain after transient forebrain ischemia.

Phosphocreatine, ATP, and glucose were severely depleted, and the lactate levels were increased in the paramedian neocortex, dorsal-lateral striatum, and CA1 zone of hippocampus of rats exposed to 30 min of forebrain ischemia. Upon recirculation of the brain, phosphocreatine, ATP, and lactate concentrations recovered to control values in the paramedian neocortex and CA1 zone of hippocampus and to near-control values in the striatum. The phosphocreatine and ATP concentrations then fell and the lactate levels rose in the striatum after 6-24 h, and in the CA1 zone of hippocampus after 24-72 h. The initial recovery and subsequent delayed changes in the phosphocreatine, ATP, and lactate concentrations in the striatum and hippocampus coincided with the onset and progression of morphological injury in these brain regions. The results suggest that cells in these regions regain normal or near-normal mitochondrial function and are viable, in terms of energy production, for many hours before unknown mechanisms cause irreversible neuronal before unknown mechanisms cause irreversible neuronal injury.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1982

Temporal profile of neuronal damage in a model of transient forebrain ischemia.

This study examined the temporal profile of ischemic neuronal damage following transient bilateral forebrain ischemia in the rat model of four-vessel occlusion. Wistar rats were subjected to transient but severe forebrain ischemia by permanently occluding the vertebral arteries and 24 hours later temporarily occluding the common carotid arteries for 10, 20, or 30 minutes. Carotid artery blood flow was restored and the rats were killed by perfusion-fixation after 3, 6, 24, and 72 hours. Rats with postischemic convulsions were discarded. Ischemic neuronal damage was graded in accordance with conventional neuropathological criteria. Ten minutes of four-vessel occlusion produced scattered ischemic cell change in the cerebral hemispheres of most rats. The time to onset of visible neuronal damage varied among brain regions and in some regions progressively worsened with time. After 30 minutes of ischemia, small to medium-sized striatal neurons were damaged early while the initiation of visible damage to hippocampal neurons in the h1 zone was delayed for 3 to 6 hours. The number of damaged neurons in neocortex (layer 3, layers 5 and 6, or both) and hippocampus (h1, h3-5, paramedian zone) increased significantly (p less than 0.01) between 24 and 72 hours. The unique delay in onset of ischemic cell change and the protracted increase in its incidence between 24 and 72 hours could reflect either delayed appearance of ischemic change in previously killed neurons or a delayed insult that continued to jeopardize compromised but otherwise viable neurons during the postischemic period.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Regional cerebral blood flow and glucose metabolism following transient forebrain ischemia.

Progressive brain damage after transient cerebral ischemia may be related to changes in postischemic cerebral blood flow and metabolism. Regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) and cerebral glucose utilization (rCGU) were measured in adult rats prior to, during (only rCBF), and serially after transient forebrain ischemia. Animals were subjected to 30 minutes of forebrain ischemia by occluding both common carotid arteries 24 hours after cauterizing the vertebral arteries. Regional CBF was measured by the indicator-fractionation technique using 4-iodo-[14C]-antipyrine. Regional CGU was measured by the 2-[14C]deoxyglucose method. The results were correlated with the distribution and progression of ischemic neuronal damage in animals subjected to an identical ischemic insult. Cerebral blood flow to forebrain after 30 minutes of moderate to severe ischemia (less than 10% control CBF) was characterized by 5 to 15 minutes of hyperemia; rCBF then fell below normal and remained low for as long as 24 hours. Post-ischemic glucose utilization in the forebrain, except in the hippocampus, was depressed below control values at 1 hour and either remained low (neocortex, striatum) or gradually rose to normal (white matter) by 48 hours. In the hippocampus, glucose utilization equaled the control value at 1 hour and fell below control between 24 and 48 hours. The appearance of moderate to severe morphological damage in striatum and hippocampus coincided with a late rise of rCBF above normal and with a fall of rCGU; the late depression of rCGU was usually preceded by a period during which metabolism was increased relative to adjacent tissue. Further refinement of these studies may help identify salvageable brain after ischemia and define ways to manipulate CBF and metabolism in the treatment of stroke.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Edema and vascular permeability in cerebral ischemia: comparison between ischemic neuronal damage and infarction.

The respective influences of ischemic neuronal damage and infarction on the development of abnormal blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability and cerebral edema were evaluated in a rat model of temporary four-vessel occlusion in which ischemic neuronal damage with only infrequent infarction is produced. Survival times ranged from 40 minutes to 5 days after ischemia. Evans blue and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) were given before sacrifice. The majority of brain showed moderate ischemic neuronal damage inthe striatum. In these areas there was neither leakage of Evans blue nor extravasation of HRP. Astrocytic processes were moderately swollen. Large, grossly-visible unilateral infarcts were present in only 5 animals, and all showed abnormal BBB permeability of HRP which occurred via enchanced pinocytosis, and occasionally via diffuse leakage through necrotic vessels. Astrocytic processes were markedly swollen and their plasma membranes were disrupted. Whole brain and regional water content in a parallel series of animals were measured from 15 minutes (min) to 48 hours (h) postischemia. They showed a transient, 1% increase in whole brain water content from 15 to 60 min postischemia, but no increase in regional water content at any postischemic interval. These studies suggest that ischemia produces BBB permeability to large molecules, and sustained cerebral edema only when the process damages blood vessels and astrocytes; neuronal necrosis alone is insufficient.

Animals↗