FYI:
Neurochem Res. 2011 Jun;36(6):1062-72. Epub 2011 Mar 30.
Oxidative stress in a model of toxic demyelination in rat brain: the effect of piracetam and vinpocetine.
Abdel-Salam OM, Khadrawy YA, Salem NA, Sleem AA.
Source
Department of Toxicology and Narcotics, National Research Centre, Tahrir St, Dokki, Cairo, Egypt. omasalam@hotmail.com
Abstract
We studied the role of oxidative stress and the effect of vinpocetine (1.5, 3 or 6 mg/kg) and piracetam (150 or 300 mg/kg) in acute demyelination of the rat brain following intracerebral injection of ethidium bromide (10 μl of 0.1%). Results: ethidium bromide caused (1) increased malondialdehyde (MDA) in cortex, hippocampus and striatum; (2) decreased total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in cortex, hippocampus and striatum; (3) decreased reduced glutathione (GSH) in cortex and hippocampus (4); increased serum nitric oxide and (5) increased striatal (but not cortical or hippocampal) acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity. MDA decreased in striatum and cortex by the lower doses of vinpocetine or piracetam but increased in cortex and hippocampus and in cortex, hypothalamus and striatum by the higher dose of vinpocetine or piracetam, respectively along with decreased TAC. GSH increased by the higher dose of piracetam and by vinpocetine which also decreased serum nitric oxide. Vinpocetine and piracetam displayed variable effects on regional AChE activity.
PMID: 21448596 [PubMed - in process]
Full paper: http://www.springerl...50745333h85131/
These findings are likely to suggest a pro-oxidant effect as well for vinpocetine at 6 mg/kg
and explaining the less marked increase in GSH compared
with the lower dose of the drug. In case of piracetam, the
highest dose of the drug increased lipid peroxidation in
brain, whilst eliciting increased brain GSH. An intriguing
explanation for these observations is that at their high
concentration, these drugs exhibit pro-oxidant properties
and increase free radical production or act as a free radical
and in this latter case, it is possible that either piratcetam or
vinpocetine react with other free radicals or antioxidant
systems other than glutathione, which is spared in this
condition.
Edited by Watson, 17 July 2011 - 10:54 AM.