Proper trace element level and antioxidant enzyme activity are crucial for the brain in maintaining normal neurological functions. To our knowledge, alteration of lipid peroxidation status, trace element level, and antioxidant activity in the homogenates of brain cortex after cerebral ischemia in gerbil, however, has not been investigated so far. Male Mongolian gerbils were divided into control and ischemic subjects. Cerebral ischemia was induced by occlusion of the right middle cerebral artery and right common carotid artery for 1 h. Experimental results showed that a significant increase (P < 0.01) of the malondialdehyde level was found in the ischemic brain as compared with the control group. Trace element analysis indicated that a remarkable elevation (P < 0.01) of the level of iron (Fe), chromium (Cr), and a statistical decrease of selenium (Se) and zinc (Zn) (P < 0.05) concentration were observed in the ischemic brain as compared with the control subject. No significant change (P > 0.05) of the copper (Cu) level was found in both experimental groups. Additionally, antioxidant activity of superoxide dismutase (P < 0.01) and catalase (P < 0.05) was significantly decreased in the ischemic brain as compared with the control subject. Taking all results together, it is conceivable to manifest the experimental findings that cerebral ischemia not only may result in an enhanced oxidative stress but also may lead to further oxidative injury. Moreover, disturbance of trace element level combined with declined antioxidant activity seems to play a significant role in responsible for the etiology of cerebral ischemia.

Marked accumulation of arachidonic acid (AA) and intracellular Ca2+ and Na+ overloads are seen during brain ischemia. In this study, we show that, in neurons, AA induces cytosolic Na+ ([Na+]cyt) and Ca2+ ([Ca2+]cyt) overload via a non‐selective cation conductance (NSCC), resulting in mitochondrial [Na+]m and [Ca2+]m overload. Another two types of free fatty acids, including oleic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid, induced a smaller increase in the [Ca2+]i and [Na+]i. RU360, a selective inhibitor of the mitochondrial Ca2+ uniporter, inhibited the AA‐induced [Ca2+]m and [Na+]m overload, but not the [Ca2+]cyt and [Na+]cyt overload. The [Na+]m overload was also markedly inhibited by either Ca2+‐free medium or CGP3715, a selective inhibitor of the mitochondrial Na+cyt‐Ca2+m exchanger. Moreover, RU360, Ca2+‐free medium, Na+‐free medium, or cyclosporin A (CsA) largely prevented AA‐induced opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore, cytochrome c release, and caspase 3‐dependent neuronal apoptosis. Importantly, Na+‐ionophore/Ca2+‐free medium, which induced [Na+]m overload, but not [Ca2+]m overload, also caused cyclosporin A‐sensitive mitochondrial permeability transition pore opening, resulting in caspase 3‐dependent apoptosis, indicating that [Na+]m overload per se induced apoptosis. Our results therefore suggest that AA‐induced [Na+]m overload, acting via activation of the NSCC, is an important upstream signal in the mitochondrial‐mediated apoptotic pathway. The NSCC may therefore act as a potential neuronal death pore which is activated by AA accumulation under pathological conditions.

AA and FFAs, which accumulate in the myocardium during post-I/R, may therefore act as naturally occurring endogenous ionophores and contribute to the myocyte death seen during post-I/R.

BackgroundIt has been suggested that the antioxidant properties of olmesartan (OLM), an angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R) blocker, contribute to renal protection rather than blood pressure lowering effects despite the fact that causal relationships between hypertension and renal artery disease exist. This study aimed to examine the hypothesis whether the antioxidative activities of OLM were correlated to arterial stiffness, reactive oxygen species and advanced glycation end products (AGEs) formation in rats with chronic renal failure (CRF).MethodsCRF rats were induced by 5/6 nephrectomy and randomly assigned to an OLM (10 mg/day) group or a control group. Hemodynamic states, oxidative stress, renal function and AGEs were measured after 8 weeks of OLM treatment.ResultsAll the hemodynamic derangements associated with renal and cardiovascular dysfunctions were abrogated in CRF rats receiving OLM. Decreased cardiac output was normalized compared to control (p <0.05). Mean aortic pressure, total peripheral resistance and left ventricular weight/body weight ratio were reduced by 21.6% (p <0.05), 28.2% (p <0.05) and 27.2% ((p <0.05). OLM also showed beneficial effects on the oscillatory components of the ventricular after-load, including 39% reduction in aortic characteristic impedance (p < 0.05), 75.3% increase in aortic compliance (p <0.05) and 50.3% increase in wave transit time (p < 0.05). These results implied that OLM attenuated the increased systolic load of the left ventricle and prevented cardiac hypertrophy in CRF rats. Improved renal function was also reflected by increases in the clearances of BUN (28.7%) and serum creatinine (SCr, 38.8%). In addition to these functional improvements, OLM specifically reduced the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) equivalents in aorta and serum by 14.3% and 25.1%, as well as the amount of AGEs in the aortic wall by 32% (p < 0.05) of CRF rats.ConclusionOLM treatment could ameliorate arterial stiffness in CRF rats with concomitant inhibition of MDA and AGEs levels through the reduction of oxidative stress in aortic wall.