Interrelationship between the functional state of the central nervous system and lipid peroxidation level in brain following craniocerebral trauma.

The interrelationship between the functional state of the CNS and brain metabolism was studied in animals following craniocerebral trauma. Lipid peroxidation and antioxidant activity of rabbit brain were investigated a day after craniocerebral trauma. An increase in conjugated dienes, TBA-reactive products (TBARP), and fluorescent Schiff bases (SchB), and a sharp decrease in antioxidant activity in all brain regions investigated were established. The possibility of regulation of the disturbed processes by artificial alteration of the functional state of the CNS was shown. It was found that the day after stimulation of injured brain by amphetamine (phenamin) or piracetam, the values of lipid peroxidation and antioxidant activity came to the same levels as for controls. On the contrary, the depression of the CNS by phenobarbital (luminal) was not accompanied by such positive reactions. The stimulants did not possess antioxidant activity in vitro experiments on a model system. Thus, it was shown that following craniocerebral trauma, the lipid peroxidation process can be regulated by modification of the functional state of the CNS alone without special antioxidant therapy.