Short-term postischemic hypoperfusion improves recovery of protein synthesis in the rat brain cortex

A cell-free system from rat brain cortex was used to follow changes in protein synthesis after ischemia and reperfusion (four-vessel occlusion). The experiment was focused to prevent a violent burst of free oxygen radicals creation during the first period of postischemic reperfusion by short-term hypoperfusion. After 30 min of ischemia, the authors applied hypoperfusion produced by releasing one (right) carotid for the first 5 min of reperfusion lasting from 30 min to 3 d. Results obtained by this procedure show that the activity of protein synthesis machinery from hypoperfused brains is higher than normovolemic ones; the left hemisphere, which is contralateral to direct blood flow during hypoperfusion, shows better results than the right hemisphere.