S-adenosyl-L-methionine ameliorates ischemic brain metabolism in spontaneously hypertensive rats

Effects of S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM) on the metabolism in ischemic brain were investigated. The ischemic model employed was an incomplete cerebral ischemia of the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) produced by the occlusion of both common carotid arteries. One hundred mg/kg of SAM was administered (i.p.) 6 times from the beginning of occlusion at 30 min intervals. At 3 hr after the onset of occlusion, animals were killed by microwave irradiation and creatine phosphate (CrP), ATP, glucose, lactate and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) contents in the brain were measured. SAM significantly mitigated both the reductions in CrP, ATP and glucose levels and the increase in GABA level due to the cerebral ischemia. In another set of experiments with the same experimental schedule, water content in the brain was examined. SAM significantly suppressed the increase in water content due to the cerebral ischemia. These results indicate ameliorating effects of SAM on the metabolism in ischemic brain.