Attenuation of postischemic brain hypoperfusion and reperfusion injury by the cyclooxygenase-lipoxygenase inhibitor BW755C.

Arachidonic acid metabolites are believed to be important mediators of tissue injury during reperfusion after cerebral ischemia. To determine whether inhibiting the oxygen-dependent metabolism of arachidonic acid would reduce reperfusion injury, we administered the mixed cyclooxygenase-lipoxygenase inhibitor BW755C (3-amino-1-[m(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-2-pyrazoline) near the time of reperfusion in a rat model of temporary focal ischemia. The duration of ischemia + reperfusion was 2 hours + 22 hours, 3 hours + 3 hours, or 3 hours + 21 hours. The effects of drug or saline treatment on infarct volume, blood-brain barrier permeability, and blood flow were determined. Cortical blood flow was monitored with laser Doppler flowmetry and blood-brain barrier permeability was evaluated by the Evans blue dye method. Infarct volume was determined in all groups by computerized image analysis of Nissl-stained sections. We found that BW755C treatment significantly attenuated delayed postischemic hypoperfusion in the 3 + 3 group (p < 0.05) and reduced the volume of Evans blue dye staining in the cortex (p < 0.01) and basal ganglia (p < 0.05). Hemispheric swelling was reduced in all treatment groups (p < 0.01), as was total infarct volume in the ischemic hemisphere (p < 0.05). These results support the hypothesis that arachidonic acid metabolites contribute to acute postischemic reperfusion injury and suggest that using a mixed cyclooxygenase-lipoxygenase inhibitor as an adjunct to thrombolytic or revascularization therapy could lengthen the ischemia time after which reperfusion is beneficial.