40; P = 0.05). On the other hand, the mitochondrial antioxidant enzyme glutathione reductase decreased with severe agonal state (P = 0.003), while the

activity of glutathione-S-transferase declined with increased storage time (P = 0.005) and severe agonal state (P = 0.02). Conclusion: Our data highlight the influence of pre- and post mortem factors on preservation of mitochondrial function with implications for studies on brain pathology employing stored human BMS-777607 molecular weight samples. “
“Hypothermia has been shown to have neuroprotective effects in various models of neurological damage. However, its effects on pediatric status epilepticus (SE) are relatively unknown. In order to understand the effects of hypothermia on pediatric SE, we conducted experiments to determine the neuroprotective effects of mild hypothermic pretreatment in a model of pediatric SE. Juvenile (21-day-old) rats were subjected to mild hypothermic or normothermic conditions prior Paclitaxel price to intraperitoneal injections of pilocarpine. We

analyzed the seizure response of these animals via electroencephalogram and conducted ex-vivo analysis for apoptotic cells in the hippocampus via a TUNEL assay. We found that mild hypothermia increased both seizure latency and time to SE onset. It also reduced the overall average spike frequency and spike area compared to normothermia controls. Furthermore, the number of apoptotic cells was reduced in the hippocampus. In conclusion, these data indicate that mild hypothermia reduces both seizure activity and neurotoxicity in a pilocarpine model of pediatric these SE. This expands previous findings examining the neuroprotective effect of hypothermia by showing neuroprotection in a pediatric model of SE. We believe these findings will help researchers find better preventative treatments for

pediatric SE in the future. “
“R. H. Xia, N. Yosef and E. E. Ubogu (2010) Neuropathology and Applied Neurobiology36, 388–398 Selective expression and cellular localization of pro-inflammatory chemokine ligand/receptor pairs in the sciatic nerves of a severe murine experimental autoimmune neuritis model of Guillain–Barré syndrome Aims: To determine if specific pro-inflammatory chemokine ligand/receptor pairs expressed in the peripheral nerves of Guillain–Barré syndrome patients are expressed in a severe murine experimental autoimmune neuritis (sm-EAN) model and to determine their cellular localization as a prerequisite to designing potentially therapeutic interventions in vivo. Methods: Sm-EAN was induced in 8–12-week-old female SJL/J mice using bovine peripheral nerve myelin emulsified in complete Freund adjuvant with pertussis toxin and recombinant mouse interleukin-12 acting as co-adjuvants, with appropriate controls. Mice were evaluated for neuromuscular weakness and weighed daily. Dorsal caudal tail and sciatic nerve motor electrophysiological studies were performed at expected maximal severity.