Effects of Hypoxic Preconditioning on the Lipid Composition of Brain Tissue and Pulmonary Surfactant in Rats with Acute Cerebral Ischemia

Introduction. Lipids are major structural components of cell membranes and are involved in the regulation of neuronal membrane functions. Alterations in lipid metabolism are considered an important pathogenetic mechanism of acute cerebral ischemia.

Aim. To evaluate the effect of hypoxic preconditioning (HP) on the lipid composition of brain tissue and pulmonary pro-oxidant activity in rats with acute cerebral ischemia.

Materials and methods. Experiments were performed on 37 male outbred white rats weighing 180 – 230 g. Cerebral ischemia was induced by combined common carotid artery ligation. Neurological deficit was assessed using the Garcia scale. The lipid composition of brain tissue was analyzed by thin-layer chromatography, and lipid peroxidation intensity was assessed by measuring malondialdehyde concentration.

Results. In cerebral ischemia, animal survival was 20%, whereas HP increased survival to 34%. The Garcia score decreased from 18 in sham-operated animals to 10.9±0.5 after ischemia and was 13.1±0.4 in the HP group (p<0.05). In brain tissue, phosphatidylcholine, sphingomyelin, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylinositol concentrations decreased by 59.3%, 60.2%, 34.9%, and 37%, respectively, while lysophospholipids increased 3.79-fold. Ceramide levels increased 4.2-fold, whereas ceramide-1-phosphate decreased by 47.4%. HP reduced lysophospholipid and ceramide levels (1.9-fold) and increased ceramide-1-phosphate concentration 1.7-fold. In lung tissue, the malondialdehyde concentration increased 3.1-fold during ischemia and decreased 1.5-fold with HP.

Conclusion. Hypoxic preconditioning exerts systemic protective effects, partially normalizing brain lipid metabolism and reducing neurological deficit in cerebral ischemia.

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