The neuroprotective effect of 2-oxoglutarate in the experimental ischemia of hippocampus

In this study we investigated the potential neuroprotective effect of 2-oxoglutarate (2-og) on the hippocampus in the transient vessel occlusion ischemia model in the mongolian gerbil. the morphological and biochemical studies were performed at 7 days after occlusion of carotid arteries. the acute reduction of neun-positive neurons in the ca1 pyramidal layer of the hippocampus was accompanied by increased staining intensity for gfap-positive astrocytes,indicative of glial reaction. the neuron death in the ca1 area coincided with a strong 2.4 fold decrease in the membrane forms of neuronal cell adhesion molecules and elevated levels of astrocyte-specific proteins (soluble gfap to 2,6 times; filament gfap to 1,5 times; calcium-binding protein s-100b to 1,6 times). treatment with 2-oxoglutarate (2.28 g/l drinking water) for between 7 and 21 days attenuated the neuronal death and reactive astrogliosis in this model of experimental ischemia by 20-50%. our results suggest that 2-og may prevent the disturbances of neural cells that usually take place during ischemic pathology.