Transforming growth factor-beta attenuates ischemia-induced alterations in cerebrovascular responses

We observed previously that 20 min of global cerebral ischemia followed by 45 min of reperfusion selectively blocked cerebral vasodilation to hypercapnia and hypotension. This study determines the effects of pretreatment with transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) on cerebrovascular responses after cerebral ischemia in piglets equipped with closed cranial windows. Hypercapnia-induced pial arteriolar dilation was blocked after cerebral ischemia (20 +/- 1 vs. 2 +/- 1% dilation before and after ischemia, respectively). Similarly, the increases in periarachnoid cortical cerebrospinal fluid 6-ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha (6-keto-PGF1 alpha) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) concentration in response to hypercapnia were blocked (2.5 +/- 0.2- vs. 0.2 +/- 0.4-fold and 2.1 +/- 0.1- vs. 0.3 +/- 0.4-fold increase in 6-keto-PGF1 alpha and PGE2, respectively). Treatment with topical TGF-beta (400 ng/ml) before and during ischemia-reperfusion attenuated the loss of hypercapnia-induced cerebrovascular dilation (20 +/- 1 vs. 14 +/- 1% dilation before and after ischemia, respectively) and the loss of associated changes in cerebrospinal fluid prostanoids (2.0 +/- 0.2- vs. 1.7 +/- 0.2-fold and 2.3 +/- 0.2- vs. 2.2 +/- 0.3-fold increase in 6-keto-PGF1 alpha and PGE2 before and after ischemia, respectively). The loss of cerebrovascular dilation in response to hemorrhagic hypotension after ischemia was similarly prevented by TGF-beta. Cerebrovascular dilation to topical isoproterenol was unchanged after ischemia. TGF-beta may preserve endothelial cell function. We conclude that topical TGF-beta can attenuate cerebromicrovascular compromise caused by ischemia-reperfusion in newborn pigs.