Metabolic reflow as a therapy for ischemic brain injury

Ischemic neuronal damage is a common feature of occlusive strokes, hemorrhagic strokes, and traumatic brain injury. In addition, ischemia can be an anticipated or unanticipated complication of a variety of surgical procedures. Most therapeutic strategies for managing ischemic injury seek to re-establish blood flow, suppress neural metabolism, and/or limit specific cellular injury cascades. An alternative therapeutic approach is to enhance the delivery of metabolic substrates to ischemic tissue. This strategy is typified by efforts to increase tissue oxygenation by elevating the levels of circulating oxygen. Our studies are examining a complementary approach in which the delivery of metabolic substrates is enhanced by facilitating the diffusion of oxygen and glucose from the vasculature into neural tissue during ischemia. This is achieved by increasing the diffusivity of small molecules in aqueous solutions, such as plasma and interstitial fluid. The carotenoid compound, trans-sodium crocetinate (TSC) is capable of increasing oxygen and glucose diffusivity, and our studies demonstrate that TSC increases cerebral tissue oxygenation in the penumbra of a focal ischemic event. In addition, TSC treatment reduces the volume of cerebral infarction in rodent models of both permanent and temporary focal ischemia. This strategy of "metabolic reflow" thus blunts the metabolic challenge in partially-perfused tissue and reduces ischemic neural injury.