Palmitic acid methyl ester is a novel neuroprotective agent against cardiac arrest

Publication date: Available online 23 November 2018Source: Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty AcidsAuthor(s): Reggie Hui-Chao Lee, Alexandre Couto e Silva, HarLee E. Possoit, Francesca M. Lerner, Po-Yi Chen, Rinata Azizbayeva, Cristiane T. Citadin, Celeste Yin-Chieh Wu, Jake T. Neumann, Hung Wen LinAbstractWe previously discovered that palmitic acid methyl ester (PAME) is a potent vasodilator first identified and released from the superior cervical ganglion and remain understudied. Thus, we investigated PAME's role in modulating cerebral blood flow (CBF) and neuroprotection after 6 minutes of cardiac arrest (model of global cerebral ischemia). Our results suggest that PAME can enhance CBF under normal physiological conditions, while administration of PAME (0.02 mg/kg) immediately after cardiopulmonary resuscitation can also enhance CBF in vivo. Additionally, functional learning and spatial memory assessments (via T-maze) 3 days after asphyxial cardiac arrest (ACA) suggest that PAME-treated rats have improved learning and memory recovery versus ACA alone. Furthermore, improved neuronal survival in the CA1 region of the hippocampus were observed in PAME-treated, ACA-induced rats. Altogether, our findings suggest that PAME can enhance CBF, alleviate neuronal cell death, and promote functional outcomes in the presence of ACA.
Source: Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids (PLEFA) - Category: Lipidology Source Type: research