Dodecafluoropentane Improves Neurological Function Following Anterior Ischemic Stroke

Dodecafluoropentane emulsion (DDFPe), an advanced oxygen transport drug, given IV at 90-min intervals maintains viability in the penumbra during cerebral ischemia in the standard rabbit anterior stroke model (STND). This study investigated shortened dosage schedules of DDFPe in nonstandard posterior (NSTND) strokes following occlusions of the posterior cerebral arteries. DDFPe given at shortened schedules of 30 or 60-min injection intervals will reduce neurological deficits, percent stroke volume (%SV), and serum glutamate levels in NSTND ischemic strokes. New Zealand White rabbits (N = 26) were randomly placed into three groups: A (n = 9) controls given saline injections every 60 min, B (n = 9) 2 % DDFPe given IV every 30 min, and C (n = 8) DDFPe every 60 min. Injections began 1 h after embolization. Groups were subdivided into STND and NSTND based on angiographically verified embolization of the cerebral arteries. Neurological assessments and blood samples were done at 0.5-1-h intervals. Rabbits were euthanized at 7 h following embolization. Stained brain slices were measured for %SV. The 30 and 60-min subgroups did not differ and were combined as DDFPe-STND or DDFPe-NSTND groups. In the DDFPe-STND stroke group, the %SV, neurological assessment scores (NAS), and serum glutamate were decreased vs. STND controls (p = 0.0016, 0.008, and 0.016, respectively). In the DDFPe-NSTND stroke group, %SV, NAS, and serum glutamate did not differ statistically compared to NSTND controls (p = 0.82, 0.097, and 0.06, respectively). More frequent dosage schedules provided no additional improvement. In anterior strokes, DDFPe improves recovery but not in the more severe NSTND strokes.