Neuroprotective treatment of cerebral infarction: an experimental study

We investigated the effect of the amniotic-derived peptide Plaferon-LB on cerebral tissue damage during photochemical insults in rats. Plaferon-LB (US patent number: 20070123467 A1) was extracted from the amniochorionic membrane of a human placenta and showed a relatively strong antihypoxic effect compared to other interferon. Thrombotic infarction was induced by photochemical illumination after intravenous injection of Rose Bengal. The infarct volume, cerebral tissue oxygen tension, cerebral blood flow, and capillary damage were measured in the following groups: untreated control rats, Plaferon-LB-alone rats, insult-alone rats, and insult in Plaferon-LB pretreated rats. The technique of electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy was used to study free-radical metabolites in the blood and brain tissue ex vivo. Plaferon-LB alone had no effect on systemic blood pressure, cerebral blood flow, and reactive metabolites in the brains of intact animals. In the insult-alone group, a focal hemorrhage was observed in the ischemic area. The cerebral blood flow and tissue oxygen pressure declined to zero within an hour and remained at this level throughout the insult. The treatment with Plaferon-LB 0.5 hr before illumination resulted in a significant reduction of the median infarct size in the insult-alone group. The total length and percentage ratio of thrombotic vessels were significantly diminished in the infarct area. The intensity of Fe2+, Mn2+ -, Mo5+ -xanthinoxidase-containing complexes, and nitric oxide EPR signals was decreased, and the electron transport in the mitochondria was normalized. The results indicate a significant beneficial effect of Plaferon-LB on cerebral infarct, which is likely due to its antioxidative properties.