Platelet-activating factor in brain after regional ischemia in gerbils and rats

AIM:Platelet-activating factor(PAF) bas been reported to be an active mediator of neuronal damage in regional cerebral ischemia on the basis of indirect pharmacological data from PAF antagonists. The direct measurement of PAF has not been reported previously in regional cerebral ischemia. It prompted us to investigate the change of PAF in unilateral ischemia in gerbils and regional ischemia in rats.METHODS:Thin layer chromatography was combined with biological methods for the determination of PAF in brain after cerebral ischemia.RESULTS:(1) The PAF content of ischemic brain was increaesd significantly in gerbils subjected to 3 h unilateral cerebral ischemia followed by 2h reperfusion respectively(4.40±0.90) and (1.30±0.40) pg/g, P 0.05. (2)The PAF content of ischemic brain was increased significantly also in rats subjected to 48 h regional ischemia respectively(5.74±0.75) and (0.76±0.05)pg/g, P 0.05. CONCLUSION:PAF could contribute to secondary neuronal damage after regional cerebral ischemia.