Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are associated with oxidative stress-mediated alterations under pathophysiological conditions, and particularly
brain ischemia,
brain tumor, and
neurodegenerative diseases. Electron spin resonance (ESR) is recognized as one of the most powerful techniques available for the detection of ROS in tissues and cells. We previously developed an in vitro ESR-based technique for the detection of
free radical reactions in
biological systems. In addition, significant advances in the field of in vivo ESR techniques over recent years have now made it possible to visualize the distribution and metabolism of oxidative stress, and the degree of tissue oxygenation in vivo.
Nitroxyl radicals are very useful as exogenous spin probes for measuring
free radical distribution,
oxygen concentration, and redox metabolism by in vivo ESR in
biological systems, using a combination of these ESR methods collectively focused on animal models of disease such as spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) or
stroke-prone SHR (SHRSP) for the assessment of
antioxidant property of drugs. Our results suggest that ESR could be applied to the assessment of
antioxidant property on oxidative stress in target organs, especially brain, using
animal disease models, SHR or SHRSP. After screening drugs for
antioxidant property using such as in vitro or in vivo ESR assessment, we'll be able to develop and find novel
antioxidant drugs for ROS-induced
brain disease in the near future.