Actinomycin D suppresses the protective effect of dexamethasone in rats affected by global cerebral ischemia

Simultaneous occlusion of both common carotid arteries in female Sprague-Dawley CFY rats produced characteristic symptoms of global cerebral ischemia, such as staggering, circling, convulsions, followed by coma and death. A close correlation existed among these symptoms and the elevation of water and Na+ content, appearing at the stage of staggering; Evans blue extravasation and diminution of K+ content, detected at circling; and the increase in Ca2+ content in the total brain tissue, manifesting itself at the phase of convulsions, indicating the development of cerebral edema due to ischemia. Dexamethasone given subcutaneously in a single 2.0 mg kg-1 dose 5 hours prior to the induction of global cerebral ischemia reduced considerably the morbidity and mortality, the alterations in water and electrolyte content, and albumin leakage in the brain tissue. Actinomycin D, in a dose of 0.5 mg kg-1 injected intravenously 1 hour before steroid treatment, abolished the beneficial effect. This finding suggests that de novo protein synthesis is involved in the cerebroprotective effect of dexamethasone.