Effects of lecithin-emulsified perfluorochemical compounds in ischemic brain injury.

A lecithin-emulsified "Pluronic F-68"-free perfluorochemical compound, named F-1,3-DMA, was tested as a new agent in the prevention of central nervous tissue ischemia. A permanent ischemia leading to cerebral infarction was induced after microsurgical exposure and occlusion of the internal carotid, anterior, and middle cerebral arteries in the rabbit. Following arterial occlusion, F-1,3-DMA was administered intravenously, in a solution rendered isotonic to plasma, over a 30 minute period. The F-1,3-DMA was well tolerated. Hemodynamic, cardiovascular and metabolic parameters were not affected by the infusion of F-1,3-DMA. Although PO2 remained virtually unchanged, animals treated with F-1,3-DMA (n = 9), had smaller infarct volume by 61 percent as compared to the control (n = 8) group (P < 0.04, Student's t-test). Histopathology did not reveal any F-1,3-DMA related damage in the non-infarcted brain. These results suggest that F-1,3-DMA has nervous tissue ischemia protective properties possibly because of microflow effects although O2 transport to "local" tissue may be enhanced as well. We believe that further research is necessary in order to make clinical trials of F-1,3-DMA possible.