Introduction
We investigated neuroprotective effect of post-risperidone (RIS) treatment against transient ischemic injury and its mechanisms in the gerbil brain.
Material & Method
Transient ischemia (TI) was induced in the telencephalon by bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (BCCAO) for 5 min under normothermic condition (37 ± 0.2ºC). Post-treatment of RIS induced hypothermia until 12 h after TI in the TI-induced animals under uncontrolled body temperature (UBT) compared to that under controlled body temperature (CBT) (about 37ºC).
Result
Neuroprotective effect was statistically significant when we used 5 and 10 mg/kg doses (P < 0.05, respectively). In the RIS-treated TI group, many CA1 pyramidal neurons of the hippocampus survived under UBT compared to those under CBT. In this group under UBT, post-treatment with RIS to TI-induced animals markedly attenuated the activation of glial cells, increases of oxidative stress markers (dihydroethidium, 8-OHdG and 4-HNE), and a decrease of superoxide dismutase 2 in their CA1 pyramidal neurons.
Conclusion
Our findings indicate that RIS-induced hypothermia can effectively protect neuronal cell death from TI injury through attenuation of glial activation and maintenance of antioxidants, showing that 5-HT2A receptor is involved in RIS-induced hypothermia.