Neuroprotection in the hibernating brain: tissue trauma and glutamate studied by microdialysis

Abstract

Hibernation, a natural model of tolerance to 'cerebral ischemia', represents a state of pronounced fluctuation in cerebral blood flow where no brain damage occurs. This study systematically investigates the brain tissue response of hibernating and euthermic arctic ground squirrels to CNS trauma, modeled by insertion of microdialysis probes. The effect of glutamate, an excitatory amino acid neurotransmitter, on the cellular response and the origin of the significant amount of gltuamate were determined by quantitative microdialysis study. The present results indicate in euthermic brain tissue a typical inflammatory tissue response evidenced by the presence of activated microglia and astrocytes and the oxidative stress response. However, this response was profoundly suppressed in hibernating animals. Importantly, the progressive increase in [glu]dia is not necessarily associated with the enhanced tissue response observed in euthermic animals and could be avoided by using sterile microdialysis technique, which suggests a microbial origin of glutamate.