Intracerebral hirudin injection alleviates cognitive impairment and oxidative stress and promotes hippocampal neurogenesis in rats subjected to cerebral ischemia
Research article published in Neuropathology : official journal of the Japanese Society of Neuropathology (2023)
Abstract
Cerebral ischemia starts with cerebral blood flow interruption that causes severely limited oxygen and glucose supply, eliciting a cascade of pathological events, such as excitotoxicity, oxidative stress, calcium dysregulation, and inflammatory response, which could ultimately result in neuronal death. Hirudin has beneficial effects in ischemic stroke and possesses antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Therefore, we investigated the biological functions of hirudin and its related mechanisms in cerebral ischemia. The ischemia-like conditions were induced by transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). To investigate hirudin roles, intracerebroventricular injection of 10 U hirudin was given to the rats. Cognitive and motor functions were examined by beam walking and Morris water maze tests. 2,3,5-triphenyl tetrazolium chloride-stained brain sections were used to measure infarct volume. Oxidative stress was determined by assessment of oxidative stress markers. The proliferated cells were labeled by BrdU and Nestin double staining. Western blotting was performed to measure protein levels. Hirudin administration improved cognitive and motor deficits post-ischemia. Hirudin reduced brain infarction and neurological damage in MCAO-subjected rats. Hirudin alleviated oxidative stress and enhanced neurogenesis in ischemic rats. Hirudin facilitated the promotion of phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 and serine-threonine kinase. In sum, hirudin alleviates cognitive deficits by attenuating oxidative stress and promoting hippocampal neurogenesis through the regulation of ERK1/2 and serine-threonine kinase in MCAO-subjected rats.
Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.
Resumen
Cerebral ischemia starts with cerebral blood flow interruption that causes severely limited oxygen and glucose supply, eliciting a cascade of pathological events, such as excitotoxicity, oxidative stress, calcium dysregulation, and inflammatory response, which could ultimately result in neuronal death.
Por qué esto importa para la hirudoterapia
Este estudio investigó si la inyección intracerebroventricular de hirudin (10 U) podría mejorar la función cognitiva y motora, reducir el volumen de infarto cerebral, atenuar el estrés oxidativo y promover la neurogénesis hipocampal en ratas sometidas a oclusión transitoria de la arteria cerebral media (MCAO). Dado que la hirudin es el anticoagulante bioactivo más estrechamente asociado con las sanguijuelas medicinales y la hirudoterapia, sus efectos neuroprotectores y neurogénicos demostrados en un modelo de ictus resultan de interés conceptual para el ámbito de la ASH. El resumen reporta que la hirudin mejoró los resultados conductuales, redujo el tamaño del infarto, alivió el estrés oxidativo y potenció la neurogénesi mediante la fosforilación de ERK1/2 y de serina-treonina quinasa. Sin embargo, se trata de un estudio preclínico en animales que utiliza inyección cerebral directa de hirudin purificada — no involucró sanguijuelas ni terapia con sanguijuelas, y su relevancia para la hirudoterapia clínica es indirecta y limitada.
Citación
Intracerebral hirudin injection alleviates cognitive impairment and oxidative stress and promotes hippocampal neurogenesis in rats subjected to cerebral ischemia.
Xia X et al. · Neuropathology : official journal of the Japanese Society of Neuropathology, 2023
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Añadido a la biblioteca ASH: March 18, 2026 · Última actualización del sitio: June 18, 2026