3-Nitropropionic acid preconditioning ameliorates delayed neurological deterioration and infarction after transient focal cerebral ischemia in gerbils

The effect of 3-nitropropionic acid (3-NP), a selective inhibitor of succin ic dehydrogenase, preconditioning on postischemic neurological deterioratio n and infarction was examined in gerbils after transient ischemia. The anim als were pretreated with 1-80mg/kg of 3-NP 1 day before ischemia induced by two 10-min occlusions of the left common carotid artery. Four milligrams p er kilogram 3-NP pretreatment significantly ameliorated postischemic neurol ogical deterioration (stroke index at 7 days postischemia, 1.4 +/- 1.5 Vs. 74 +/- 5.4 in 4 mg/kg-pretreated vs, non-pretreated animals: mean I SD) and reduced infarct volume (24 +/- 4.8 vs. 43 +/- 12 mm(3)). One and 20 mg/kg 3-NP induced milder neuroprotection, and 80 mg/kg 3-NP aggravated postische mic stroke symptoms and infarction. Thus, appropriate doze of 3-NP precondi tioning is effective in ameliorating the postischemic neurological deterior ation and reducing infarct volume. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. A ll rights reserved.