Lithium ascorbate as a cerebroprotective agent in a model of ischemic stroke

Abstract

Ischemic stroke is one of the most severe neurological pathologies with high mortality and disability. In this connection, the development and study of new drugs for the prevention and treatment of stroke is an extremely important task. A new approach to neuroprotection is the use of lithium salts with antioxidant activity. To study the cerebroprotective effect of lithium ascorbate on a rat model of ischemic stroke. Test samples of lithium ascorbate were synthesized ex tempore for an experiment using reagents of ACS qualification (Sigma-Aldrich). The ischemic stroke model was realized using the filament occlusion of the middle cerebral artery in rats of the Sprague Dawley line according to standardized procedure. Neurological examination of the animals, histological study of brain tissue with staining of brain sections, and calculating the volume of cerebral infarction were performed. There is a significant cerebroprotective effect of lithium ascorbate expressed in a multiple decrease in the volume of the zone of cerebral infarction (by 75% of the control group indicator) and the absence of mortality in the experimental group of animals. Newly discovered distinct anti-stroke effect of lithium ascorbate in combination with low toxicity could be considered promising for further clinical studies and practical application in neurology.