DIFFERENTIAL INDUCTION OF SUPEROXIDE-DISMUTASE IN CORE AND PENUMBRA REGIONS AFTER TRANSIENT FOCAL ISCHEMIA IN THE RAT NEOCORTEX

Oxygen free radicals are postulated to participate in the pathogenesis of ischemic brain injury. The present study investigated the response of the endogenous antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase (SOD), in a model of transient focal ischemia in the rat neocortex. SOD activity was increased significantly in the penumbra region at 6-24 h postisch emia, while no significant changes in SOD activity were observed in ei ther the core region or striatum. These results indicate that endogeno us antioxidant activity is differentially affected by the intensity of ischemic challenge and suggest that the regional effects of oxygen fr ee radicals may vary substantially following ischemia-reperfusion. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.