Abstract

• It is the purpose of this investigation to study the effect of methylprednisolone(M.P.) on the alterations of glucose and lactate in the acute focal ischemic cerebral edema of the cats. The acute occlusion of left middle cerebral artery(MCA) of forty cats for 1, 3 and 5 hours respectively were accomplished by applying the Heifetz clip through the transorbital approach under the operating microscope. Twelve cats were not recirculated as a untreated group, twelve cats were recirculated for 2 hours as a recirculation group and twelve cats were recirculated for 2 hours and given M.P.(15mg/kg) at 30 minutes after occlusion initially, and then every one and a half hour as a treatment group. In 1-hour untreated group glucose was reduced to 67.3% and lactate increased to 156.6%, of the sham control, in the recirculation group glucose was increased to 552.7% and lactate decreased to 79.8%, in the treatment group glucose was increased to 3334.5% and lactate decreased to 74.6% of the sham control. In 3-hour untreated group, glucose decrease to 45.5% and lactate increased to 161.3% of the sham control, in the recirculation group glucose rose to 520.0%, lactate to 135.3% of the sham control. in the treated group glucose rose to 1187.3%, lactate to 101.2% of the sham control. In 5-hour untreated group, glucose decreased to 25.5% and lactate increased to 187.9% of the sham control. In the recirculation group glucose drecreased to 12.7% and lactate increased to 196.0%, in the treated group glucose rose to 103.6%, lactate to 157.2% of the sham control. Our experimental studies of the therapeutic beneficial effects of M.P. were observed in cats of 1-or 3-hour occlusion of MCA with 2-hour recirculation. Therefore, it was suggested that MP will prolong the period of potential reversibility of cerebral ischemia following reperfusion within 3 hours of ischemia.