Abstract | OBJECTIVE:
Magnesium (Mg) deficiency has been shown to increase substance P release and induce a pro-inflammatory response that can be attenuated with the administration of a substance P-antagonist. Neurogenic inflammation has also been implicated in traumatic brain injury (TBI), a condition where brain intracellular free magnesium (Mg(f)) decline is known to occur and has been correlated with functional outcome. We therefore examined whether a substance P antagonist restores brain intracellular free magnesium concentration following TBI. METHODS: Male, adult Sprague-Dawley rats were injured using the Cernak impact acceleration model of diffuse TBI. At 30 min after injury, animals were administered either 0.25 mg/kg i.v. n-acetyl tryptophan or equal volume saline. Prior to and 4 h after induction of injury, phosphorus magnetic resonance spectra were acquired using a 7-tesla magnet interfaced with a Bruker console. Mg(f) was calculated from the chemical shift of the beta ATP. Before injury, Mg(f) was 0.51 +/- 0.05 mM (SEM). RESULTS: By 4 hr after injury, Mg(f) had significantly declined to 0.27 +/- 0.02 mM in saline treated rats. In contrast, rats treated with n-acetyl tryptophan had a Mg(f) of 0.47 +/- 0.06 mM at 4 h after injury, which was not significantly different from preinjury values. There were no significant differences in pH between the treatment groups. CONCLUSION: It seems that any beneficial effect of a substance P antagonist on functional outcome following TBI may be related to improvement in brain Mg homeostasis induced by the compound.
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Authors | Robert Vink, J J Donkin, M I Cruz, Alan J Nimmo, Ibolja Cernak |
Journal | Journal of the American College of Nutrition
(J Am Coll Nutr)
Vol. 23
Issue 5
Pg. 538S-540S
(Oct 2004)
ISSN: 0731-5724 [Print] United States |
PMID | 15466960
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
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Chemical References |
- Protease Inhibitors
- Substance P
- N-acetyltryptophan
- Tryptophan
- Magnesium
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Topics |
- Animals
- Brain Injuries
(metabolism)
- Homeostasis
- Magnesium
(metabolism)
- Magnesium Deficiency
- Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
- Male
- Protease Inhibitors
(pharmacology)
- Rats
- Rats, Sprague-Dawley
- Substance P
(antagonists & inhibitors)
- Tryptophan
(analogs & derivatives, pharmacology)
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