Dibucaine Mitigates Spreading Depolarization in Human Neocortical Slices and Prevents Acute Dendritic Injury in the Ischemic Rodent Neocortex
2011

Dibucaine Protects Human Brain Slices from Ischemic Injury

Sample size: 23 publication 10 minutes Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Risher W. Christopher, Lee Mark R., Fomitcheva Ioulia V., Hess David C., Kirov Sergei A.

Primary Institution: Georgia Health Sciences University

Hypothesis

Can dibucaine mitigate the effects of spreading depolarization in human neocortical slices?

Conclusion

Dibucaine effectively delays the onset of terminal depolarization and reduces dendritic injury in human brain slices.

Supporting Evidence

  • Dibucaine delayed the onset of terminal depolarization in human slices.
  • Spreading depolarization-induced dendritic injury was inhibited by dibucaine in a mouse stroke model.
  • Dibucaine was well-tolerated at concentrations that preserved synaptic function.
  • Human brain slices are a viable model for testing neuroprotective drugs.

Takeaway

Dibucaine is a medicine that helps protect brain cells from getting hurt during a stroke by slowing down the damage.

Methodology

The study used human brain slices and in vivo imaging to assess the effects of dibucaine on spreading depolarization.

Potential Biases

Potential biases due to the use of tissue from pediatric patients with epilepsy.

Limitations

The study was limited by the availability of human tissue and the inability to test lower concentrations of dibucaine against OGD-induced depolarizations.

Participant Demographics

Pediatric patients (average age ∼9 years) undergoing surgery for pharmacoresistant epilepsy.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p<0.0001

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1371/journal.pone.0022351

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