Propentofylline rapidly normalizes mitochondrial respiration in a gerbil low flow unilateral forebrain ischemia

The effect of propentofylline on mitochondrial respiratory activity was assessed in gerbils after 30 min of unilateral forebrain ischemia and 5 min of incomplete reperfusion. Cerebral blood flow (CBF) measured by hydrogen clearance was reduced to 12.6+/-2.1 ml/100 g per min in the ischemic hemisphere. Propentofylline at 10 mg/kg applied intraperitoneally raised CBF to 26.7+/-3.4 ml/100 g per min (P<0.05) in ischemic areas, however, CBF remained substantially reduced in comparison to the flow in the non-ischemic hemisphere (52.9+/-4.1 ml/100 g per min). Mitochondrial ADP-stimulated as well as uncoupled respiration was significantly reduced by approximately 60% after 30 min of ischemia. Since ADP-unstimulated respiration was not reduced, the respiratory control ratio declined markedly. Five minutes after application of propentofylline all indices of the mitochondrial respiratory capacity were normalized despite persisting reduction in CBF.