Effects of dichloroacetate oon survival rate, brain ATP, lactate and water contents following bilateral carotid artery occulusion in spontaneously hypertensive rats

Effects of dichloroacetate (DCA) on survival rate, brain ATP, lactate and water coontents were examined after bilateral cartid artery occlusion (BCAO) in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Two series of studies were performed, one was the permanent BCAO study and the other was the 3-hr-BCAO study. The neurologic defictis and the survival at 24 hrs were assessed in the permanent BCAO study. Brain ATP, lactate and water contents in the forebrain and the midbrain were measured in the 3-hr BCAO study. Immediately after occlusion, either saline (untreated group) or 5%DCA 125ng/kg (DCA group) was given intravenously. After permanent BCAO, the survival rate at 24 hrs of 44% in the DCA group was significantly higher than that (10%) in the untreated group. At the end od 3-hr-BCAO, the decrease in ATP content and the increase in lactate and water contents in the midbrain were significantly less in the DCA group than those in the untreated froup. Thse results indicated that DCA improved a sutvival rate 24 hrs. The improvement appeared to be related to the reduction od lactate accumulation and water content of the ischemic brain with this drug. We conclude that DCA may have ameliorative effects on the ischemic brain damege.