OBJECTIVE

To study the effect of Mexidol on the level of factors regulating neuroregenesis.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The study was performed on male Wistar rats. Focal cerebral ischemia was reproduced by endovascular occlusion-reperfusion of the right medial cerebral artery. The duration of occlusion was 60 min. During the beginning of reperfusion, the animals were given a single intravenous injection of saline solution or the drug Mexidol at a dose of 50 mg/kg. 4, 8 and 24 hours after the beginning of reperfusion in the ischemic hemisphere, the relative amount of molecules regulating neurogenesis was estimated by Western blot method. Additionally, 24 hours after the start of reperfusion, the size of the brain infarction was analyzed after staining with a 1% solution of 2.3,5,-triphenyltetrazolium.

RESULTS

When modeling occlusion-reperfusion of the middle cerebral artery, the volume of necrosis in the affected hemisphere of animals injected with saline was 37.75±7.46%, administration of Mexidol at a dose of 50 mg /kg led to a decrease in the volume of necrosis to 20.48±2.33% (p=0.0006). The simulation of occlusion-reperfusion of the middle cerebral artery was accompanied by activation of neurotrophic factors IGF-1, NGF and vascular factor VEGF. A single intravenous administration of Mexidol at a dose of 50 mg/kg during reperfusion increased the level of neurotrophic factors IGF-1, NGF, BDNF and VEGF in the ischemic area of the brain compared with the administration of saline, which leads to increased neuroregeneration at all follow-up periods (4, 8 and 24 hours after reperfusion), the marker of which is tubulin-3.

CONCLUSION

The results suggest that Mexidol not only has a protective effect on neurons, but can also stimulate neuroregeneration by increasing the level of the main regulatory molecules.