Neuroprotective mechanisms of hypothermia in brain ischaemia

MA Yenari, HS Han - Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 2012 - nature.com
MA Yenari, HS Han
Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 2012nature.com
Cooling can reduce primary injury and prevent secondary injury to the brain after insults in
certain clinical settings and in animal models of brain insult. The mechanisms that underlie
the protective effects of cooling—also known as therapeutic hypothermia—are slowly
beginning to be understood. Hypothermia influences multiple aspects of brain physiology in
the acute, subacute and chronic stages of ischaemia. It affects pathways leading to
excitotoxicity, apoptosis, inflammation and free radical production, as well as blood flow …
Abstract
Cooling can reduce primary injury and prevent secondary injury to the brain after insults in certain clinical settings and in animal models of brain insult. The mechanisms that underlie the protective effects of cooling — also known as therapeutic hypothermia — are slowly beginning to be understood. Hypothermia influences multiple aspects of brain physiology in the acute, subacute and chronic stages of ischaemia. It affects pathways leading to excitotoxicity, apoptosis, inflammation and free radical production, as well as blood flow, metabolism and blood–brain barrier integrity. Hypothermia may also influence neurogenesis, gliogenesis and angiogenesis after injury. It is likely that no single factor can explain the neuroprotection provided by hypothermia, but understanding its myriad effects may shed light on important neuroprotective mechanisms.
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