SUPPRESSION OF HYPEREMIA AFTER BRAIN ISCHEMIA BY L-THREO-3,4-DIHYDROXYPHENYLSERINE

ALTHOUGH several studies have shown that L-threo-3,4-dihydroxyphenylse rine (DOPS) may provide a neuroprotective effect against ischemic brai n damage, its protective mechanism is not fully understood. Glutamate release and hippocampal blood flow in ischemia with administration of DOPS were investigated to elucidate the neuroprotective mechanism of D OPS. Pre- (but not post-) ischemic administration of DOPS rescued 73% of hippocampal CA1 neurons (p < 0.001, compared with ischemia only) 1 week after transient global ischemia in gerbils. While glutamate relea se induced by ischemia was not affected, the increase of hippocampal b lood flow during reperfusion was significantly suppressed by DOPS. The se results demonstrate that DOPS may prevent reperfusion injury by sup pression of hyperemia after ischemia, resulting in neuroprotection. Ne uroReport 9: 2939-2943 (C) 1998 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.