Comparative Effects of Dihydroergotoxine (DHET) on CBF and Metabolism Changes Produced by Experimental Cerebral Edema, Hypoxia and Hypertension

Abstract

Dihydroergotoxine (DHET) perfused in the dog (100μg/kg) presenting a cerebral per-hypocapno-anemic syndrome reduces cerebral hyperemia, increases cerebral venous PO₂, despite the rise in CMRO₂ and favors glucose oxidation by the brain. DHET (20 mg/kg p.o.) is able to drop mean, diastolic and systolic arterial blood pressures in renal-hypertensive rats having a cerebral edema induced by triethyltin intoxication without affecting cerebral water and sodium levels which are increased in the controls. DHET (50 μg/kg i.v.) can also improve EEG changes produced by a traumatic edema but does not exert (200 μg/kg i.v.) any effect on EEG changes produced in the rabbit by lithium chloride intoxication.

Key Enzymes of Glycolysis in Rat Brain: Effects of Single and Repetitive Treatment with Dihydroergotoxine (Redergin®)

“…hypoxia or ischemia) a greater proportion of pyruvate is reduced to lactate in older than in young brain. This could be potentiated if the efflux of lactate from brain is impaired; there are indications that the blood-brain barrier does not function properly in aged brain (4).…”

“…The majority of biochemical investigations were concerned with catecholamine metabolism and the related cyclic AMP system (2, 3, 10, 12, 21). Also, DHETX expresses the beneficial ef fects on the brain damaged by hypoxia and ischemia (1,2,4,14), and these effects are more pronounced during recovery after short term ischemia (5, 15). However, a single dose of DHETX did not show any effect on energy-pro ducing metabolites in normal brain (15).…”