Irfi-016, a Selective Analogue of Vitamin E, Exerts Beneficial Effects on Cerebral Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury in Mongolian Gerbils

Oxygen fret radicals have been implicated in ischemia/reperfusion injury (1). We investigated the effects of pretreatment with IRFI-016, a new antioxidant drug, that proved to have beneficial effects in myocardial &hernia (2), on levels of cerebral malonildialdehyde (a product of lipid peroxidation), mortality and hyperactivity following brain ischemia/reperfusion injury in the Mongolian gerbils. Brain ischemia/reperfusion injury was induced by 5 mm of bilateral occlusion of common carotid arteries followed by reperfusion, a procedure which causes hippocampal lesions in the gerbils (3). IRF!I-016 (50, 100 and 200 mglkg/i.p.), administered 30 min before occlusion, significantly reduced cerebral malondialdehyde formation, mortality and hyperactivity following global cerebral ischemia and reperfusion. Data indicate that IRFI-016 might be effective in improving ischemic cerebral damage.