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Naloxone and mortality in the gerbil stroke model
E C Benzel1, C C Musgrove, L Kesterson
1Division of Neurosurgery, Louisiana State University Medical Center, Shreveport 71130-3932.
Southern Medical Journal
|May 1, 1989
Summary
Low-dose naloxone (1.0-2.5 mg/kg) significantly improved survival rates in a gerbil stroke model. This finding suggests narcotic antagonists may offer therapeutic benefits for stroke patients.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
- Stroke Research
Background:
- Narcotics and endorphins can worsen neurological deficits post-stroke.
- Investigating the potential of narcotic antagonists to mitigate stroke-related damage is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of naloxone, a narcotic antagonist, in improving outcomes after stroke.
- To determine the optimal dosage of naloxone for stroke treatment in a preclinical model.
Main Methods:
- Fifty adult gerbils underwent carotid artery transsection to induce stroke.
- Various doses of naloxone (1.0-2.5 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg) or saline were administered 45 minutes post-stroke.
Main Results:
- Low-dose naloxone (1.0 to 2.5 mg/kg) significantly reduced mortality compared to control and high-dose naloxone.
- A naloxone dose of 1.0 or 2.5 mg/kg showed a statistically significant improvement in survival (P = .026).
Conclusions:
- Appropriate early administration of low-dose naloxone enhances survival in a gerbil stroke model.
- These findings suggest potential therapeutic implications for narcotic antagonists in human stroke treatment.