In this study, we investigated whether
resveratrol could protect against ischemic injury by improving brain energy metabolism and alleviating oxidative stress. Male rats were divided into three groups:
sham operation,
ischemia treatment, and
ischemia combined with
resveratrol treatment (
resveratrol-treated group, 30 mg/kg intraperitoneally for 7 days).
Cerebral ischemia was induced by using the model of
middle cerebral artery occlusion. The
dialysates in hypothalamus were obtained by brain microdialysis technique. The effects of
resveratrol on neurologic functions and histopathologic changes were evaluated. The levels of
ATP,
ADP,
AMP,
adenosine,
inosine,
hypoxanthine and
xanthine in microdialysate were monitored by HPLC analysis. The levels of
malondialdehyde and the activities of
xanthine oxidase in brain tissues were analyzed in three groups. This study shows that the ischemic
infarcts were significantly reduced and neurological functions were improved in
resveratrol-treated group compared to
ischemia group. The analysis results show that
resveratrol treatments remarkably enhanced the level of
glucose,
ATP and energy charge; decreased the levels of
lactate during I/R period.
Resveratrol treatments significantly increased the basal levels of adesonine and
inosine, inhibited the elevations of
hypoxanthine and
xanthine levels and remarkably decreased
xanthine oxidase activity and
malondialdehyde levels. This study provides in vivo evidence that
resveratrol could exert
neuroprotective effect against
ischemia injury by improving brain energy metabolism and alleviating oxidative stress via inhibiting
xanthine oxidase activity and preventing the production of
hypoxanthine,
xanthine and
oxygen radicals during
ischemia/reperfusion.