Effects of Acute Lithium Treatment on Brain Levels of Inflammatory Mediators in Poststroke Rats

Matthew Boyko, Ahmad Nassar, Jacob Kaplanski, Alexander Zlotnik, Yael Sharon-Granit, Abed N. Azab

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

13 Scopus citations

Abstract

Stroke is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Few therapeutic options with proven efficacy are available for the treatment of this disabling disease. Lithium is the gold standard treatment for bipolar disorder. Moreover, lithium has been shown to exhibit neuroprotective effects and therapeutic efficacy as a treatment of other neurological disorders. This study was undertaken to examine the effects of lithium on brain inflammatory mediators levels, fever, and mortality in postischemic stroke rats. Ischemic stroke was induced by occlusion of the mid cerebral artery (MCAO). Pretreatment with a single dose of lithium at 2 hours before MCAO induction significantly reduced the elevation in interleukin- (IL-) 6 and prostaglandin Elevels in brain of post-MCAO rats, as compared to vehicle-treated animals. On the other hand, lithium did not affect the elevation in IL-1, IL-10, IL-12, and tumor necrosis factor- levels in brain of post-MCAO rats. Moreover, pretreatment with lithium did not alter post-MCAO fever and mortality. These results suggest that acute pretreatment with a single dose of lithium did not markedly affect post-MCAO morbidity and mortality in rats.

Original languageEnglish
Article number916234
JournalBioMed Research International
Volume2015
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jan 2015

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
  • General Immunology and Microbiology

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