Effect of Adenosine Receptor Agonist and Ascorbic Acid on Ultrastructure of Hippocampal CA1 Neurons after Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury

In brain ischemia, blood and oxygen supply decrease and after reperfusion, free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) cause severe damage. As hippocampal injury after ischemia-reperfusion causes some complications, in this study we analyzed the effect of adenosine receptor agonist (N6-cyclopentyladenosine or CPA) and ascorbic acid on ultrastructure of hippocampal CA1 neurons after ischemia-reperfusion.
35 male rats in 5 groups were used. Ischemia-reperfusion performed by occlusion of common carotids for 15 minutes. CPA and ascorbic acids were intraperitoneally injected for 7 days after ischemia, and 2 weeks before and for 7 days after ischemia, respectively. After 20 days, brain samples were isolated, prepared, and assayed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM).
Findings: Ultrastructure assay of hippocampal CA1 neurons after ischemia-reperfusion with transmission electron microscopy showed recovery of intracellular organelles particularly mitochondria of treated groups. In combination therapy, these improvements were better.
Intraperitoneal injection of CPA and ascorbic acid after ischemia-reperfusion can reduce neural damage in CA1 region of hippocampus.