Effects of triflusal on oxidative stress, prostaglandin production and nitric oxide pathway in a model of anoxia-reoxygenation in rat brain slices

Abstract

Acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) is the most widely used drug in the prevention of ischemic vascular accidents, mainly because of its antithrombotic effect. Recently, evidence of a neuroprotective effect has appeared. The aim of this study was to evaluate the neuroprotective effect of triflusal, a fluorinated derivative of ASA, in a model of anoxia-reoxygenation in rat brain slices. Rats ( n =10 per group) were treated for 7 days with 1, 10 or 50 mg/kg/day p.o. of triflusal or ASA or solvent (control group), then brain slices were obtained and subjected to a period of anoxia followed by 180 min of reoxygenation. We measured oxidative stress parameters (lipid peroxidation, glutathione system), prostaglandins (PGE 2 ), nitric oxide pathway activity (NO) (nitrites+nitrates, constitutive and inducible NO synthase activity) and cell death (lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) efflux). Triflusal decreased cell death in rat brain slices subjected to reoxygenation after anoxia by 21%, 42% and 47% with 1, 10 and 50 mg/kg/day, respectively. This effect was proportionately greater than the effect of ASA (0%, 25% and 24%). The antioxidant effects of triflusal on the biochemical mechanisms of cell damage studied here were also greater than the effects of ASA: lipid peroxidation was reduced by 29%, 35% and 36% with triflusal, and 0%, 19% and 29% with ASA. Inducible NO synthase activity was reduced by 25%, 27% and 30% with triflusal, and 0%, 25% and 24% with ASA. Triflusal can be considered an alternative to ASA as a neuroprotective agent, at least in the experimental model of anoxia-reoxygenation used in the present study.