The putative essential nutrient pyrroloquinoline quinone is neuroprotective in a rodent model of hypoxic/ischemic brain injury.

Abstract

Pyrroloquinoline quinone is a ubiquitous redox cofactor and putative essential nutrient in mammals. Pyrroloquinoline quinone has recently been demonstrated to depress N-methyl-D-asparate induced electrical responses and is neuroprotective in vitro. In addition, pyrroloquinoline quinone has been demonstrated to act as a free radical scavenger in mammalian tissues. In this study, we demonstrate a neuroprotective effect of pyrroloquinoline quinone in an in vivo cerebral hypoxia/ischemia model in the rodent. Significant reduction in infarct size resulted from pyrroloquinoline quinone pretreatment and also when pyrroloquinoline quinone was administered following induction of hypoxia/ischemia. The neuroprotective effect was not dependent on change in core or cranial temperatures, as there was no difference between temperature measurements in pyrroloquinoline quinone-treated and vehicle-treated controls. No changes in electroencephalographic activity were observed at neuroprotective doses. These findings suggest that pyrroloquinoline quinone may represent a novel class of quinoid reagents of potential use in the treatment of neurological disorders that involve excitotoxicity. This study demonstrates a protective effect of the novel essential nutrient pyrroloquinoline quinone on brain injury in a rodent model of cerebral hypoxia/ischemia. Pyrroloquinoline quinone was neuroprotective when administered before and even after the insult, and did not appear to have significant neurobehavioral side effects. Pyrroloquinoline quinone represents a new class of agents with potential use in the therapy of stroke.

• Authors: F E Jensen, G J Gardner, A P Williams, P M Gallop, E Aizenman, P A Rosenberg
• Journal: Neuroscience (Neuroscience) Vol. 62 Issue 2 Pg. 399-406 (Sep 1994) ISSN: 0306-4522 [Print] United States
• PMID: 7830887 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Coenzymes
• Free Radical Scavengers
• Quinolones
• PQQ Cofactor

Topics

• Animals
• Brain (drug effects, physiology, physiopathology)
• Brain Ischemia (physiopathology, prevention & control)
• Cerebral Infarction (pathology, physiopathology)
• Coenzymes (pharmacology)
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Electroencephalography (drug effects)
• Free Radical Scavengers (pharmacology)
• Hypoxia, Brain (physiopathology, prevention & control)
• PQQ Cofactor
• Quinolones (pharmacology)
• Rats