Yd. Teng et Jr. Wrathall, EVALUATION OF CARDIORESPIRATORY PARAMETERS IN RATS AFTER SPINAL-CORD TRAUMA AND TREATMENT WITH NBQX, AN ANTAGONIST OF EXCITATORY AMINO-ACIDRECEPTORS, Neuroscience letters, 209(1), 1996, pp. 5-8
-Dihydroxy-6-nitro-7-sulfamoyl-benzo(f)quinoxaline (NBQX), a selective
antagonist of amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid (AM
PA)/kainate receptors, ameliorates functional deficits and tissue loss
after experimental contusive spinal cord injury (SCI). Data suggest t
hat NBQX acts via local receptors at the injury site. However, potenti
al systemic effects of NBQX could also modify consequences of SCI. We
therefore examined effects of therapeutic doses of NBQX on cardiorespi
ratory parameters (CRP) including: mean arterial pressure, heart rate,
respiratory rate and arterial blood gas. We found no significant effe
ct on these CRP of either focal microinjection or intravenous administ
ration of NBQX at doses that are therapeutic for SCI, in either uninju
red rats, or rats after SCI. The results support the hypothesis that N
BQX affects SCI by acting locally rather than through systemic effects
and demonstrate NBQX treatment paradigms without adverse effects on C
RP.