CEREBROPROTECTION BY GERMANIUM COORDINATION COMPOUNDS IN EXPERIMENTAL ACUTE GLOBAL BRAIN ISCHEMIA

Abstract

Background. Stroke is among the leading causes of death and disability worldwide with rising incidence among young people today. This is the third most common cause of disability-adjusted life-years worldwide Objective. The present study evaluated the cerebroprotective action of coordination compounds of germanium with underlying global cerebral ischemia in rats. Methods. Global cerebral infarction was induced by bilateral common carotid artery occlusion. For primary screening we used numerous bis(citrate) germanates (stannates) compounds, which contained different metals: OL1-8, and VITAGERM-1,2,3 and 4. All germanium complexes used were injected intraperitoneally (1 % aqueous solution at a dose of 50 and 100 mg/kg in 35 min after bilateral common carotid artery occlusion). Piracetam was used as a reference drug. Criteria of cerebroprotection efficacy: survival of rats (%), ET50 (median effective time), observational Irwin’s test. Results. Almost all bis(citrate) germanates (stannates), which contained different metals, possessed anti-ischemic activity of different intensity. The exceptions were cobalt-containing OL-6 and OL-2 compounds. The most significant efficacy of all investigated indices (which exceeded even reference drug) was evidenced for VITAGERM-1 – a coordination compound of germanium, diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid and lithium. Conclusions. Results of our experiments are the substitution for further more profound pharmacological investigation of VITAGERM-1 for stroke cerebroprotection and its implementation into clinics.

Keywords

• global brain ischemia
• germanium coordination compounds
• screening.