Effects of fructose-1,6-biphosphate on microsphere-induced cerebral ischemia in the rat

Fructose-1,6-bisphosphate has been shown to exert beneficial effects in different experimental models of cerebral ischemia. In view of this evidence, we have determined whether the compound protects the brain during microsphere-induced ischemia. One thousand two hundred microspheres were injected into female rats through a catheter inserted into the right common carotid artery and, 15 minutes and again 24 hours later, we intravenously treated the animals with 333 mg Kg(-1) of fructose-1,6-bisphosphate. The injection of microspheres produced significant changes in the rats' gross behavior, in their performance in the beam walking test, and in their brain lactate concentrations. The treatment with fructose-1,6-bisphosphate significantly attenuated the behavioral alterations induced by microsphere ischemia, but not in reducing brain accumulation of lactate. Moreover, the compound was shown to ameliorate the blood-brain barrier dysfunction, produced 2 and 4 hours after microsphere injection, evaluated by the Evans blue method. These results suggest that fructose-1,6-bisphosphate possesses salutary properties against the damages induced by microsphere ischemia.