EFFECT OF PROPENTOFYLLINE ON [H-3] LEUCINE INCORPORATION INTO PROTEINOF POSTISCHEMIC RAT-BRAIN

The effect of propentofylline on regional [(3)-H]-leucine incorporatio n into brain proteins was investigated during early reperfusion follow ing permanent occlusion of vertebral arteries and reversible occlusion of the common carotid arteries of awake rats. In rats subjected to 5 min ischemia/50 min reperfusion the total brain radioactivity and TCA- precipitable, radioactivity were reduced in the cerebellum, medulla ob longata, hypothalamus, cortex, striatum and hippocampus and the fracti onal protein radioactivity was decreased in the cortex, striatum and h ippocampus. Propentofylline pretreatment at a dose of 25 mg/kg p.o. da ily for 14 days completely reversed the reduction in total radioactivi ty and partially reversed the reduction in TCA-precipitable radioactiv ity in all brain regions studied and decreased the reduction in fracti onal protein radioactivity in the hippocampus. The results suggest tha t the protective effect of propentofylline on transient ischemia-induc ed brain damage may be related to improvement of [H-3]-leucine incorpo ration into brain proteins.