Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor reduces striatal dopamine accumulation caused by cerebral ischemia

Hock-Kean Liew^a, †, Chih-Wei Hsu^{b, c}, †, Jon-Son Kuo^d, Cheng-Yoong Pang^{a, d}

^a Department of Medical Research, Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital, Hualien, Taiwan
^b Department of Emergency Medicine, Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital, Hualien, Taiwan
^c School of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan
^d Institute of Medical Sciences, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan

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Abstract
Objectives

Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) plays important roles in neuroprotection. Acute and massive increases in extracellular dopamine can cause damage to the striatal neurons during cerebral ischemia (CI). We hypothesized that G-CSF may exert neuroprotective effects by reducing dopamine accumulation.

Materials and Methods

CI was induced by infusing endothelin-1 (Et-1, 120 pmol in 10 μL saline) into the root of the middle cerebral artery in freely moving rats. G-CSF (200 μg/kg in 0.2 mL saline) was administered immediately after CI induction.

Results

G-CSF reduced dopamine accumulation in the ischemic striatum after CI was induced by Et-1. The total brain infarct volume was reduced by 67% (p < 0.05) at 24 hours after CI.

Conclusion

These data suggest that reduced dopamine accumulation may be one of the mechanisms underlying the neuroprotective effects of G-CSF.

Keywords
Cerebral ischemia; Dopamine; Endothelin-1; Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor; Neuroprotection