Publications by authors named "Kristal D Atkins"
Background: Docosahexaenoic acid, a major omega-3 essential fatty acid family member, improves behavioral deficit and reduces infarct volume and edema after experimental focal cerebral ischemia. We hypothesize that DHA elicits neuroprotection by inducing AKT/p70S6K phosphorylation, which in turn leads to cell survival and protects against ischemic stroke in young and aged rats.
Methods And Results: Rats underwent 2 h of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo).
Article Synopsis
- DHA combined with lower concentrations of human serum albumin (Alb) shows potential neuroprotection in a rat stroke model, successfully extending the treatment window beyond the typical 5 hours post-stroke.
- Rats treated with DHA-Alb at moderate doses demonstrated significantly improved neurological scores and reduced brain damage compared to those given only Alb, indicating a more effective treatment method for stroke recovery.
- These findings highlight the clinical potential of DHA-Alb complexes in enhancing neurobehavioral outcomes after stroke, suggesting a new approach to therapeutic strategies in stroke management.
Acute ischemic stroke triggers complex neurovascular, neuroinflammatory and synaptic alterations. Aspirin and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), an omega-3 essential fatty acid family member, have beneficial effects on cerebrovascular diseases. DHA is the precursor of neuroprotectin D1 (NPD1), which downregulates apoptosis and, in turn, promotes cell survival.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPlatelet-activating factor (PAF) accumulates during cerebral ischemia, and inhibition of this process plays a critical role in neuronal survival. Recently, we demonstrated that LAU-0901, a novel PAF receptor antagonist, is neuroprotective in experimental stroke. We used magnetic resonance imaging in conjunction with behavior and immunohistopathology to expand our understanding of this novel therapeutic approach.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe psychostimulants amphetamine and methylphenidate (MPD/Ritalin) are the drugs most often used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In addition, students of all ages take these drugs to improve academic performance but also abuse them for pleasurable enhancement. In addition, other psychostimulants such as 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA/ecstasy) are used/abused for similar objectives.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWe examined the neuroprotective efficacy of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), an omega-3 essential fatty acid family member, in acute ischemic stroke; studied the therapeutic window; and investigated whether DHA administration after an ischemic stroke is able to salvage the penumbra. In each series described below, SD rats underwent 2 h of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo). In series 1, DHA or saline was administered i.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground And Purpose: Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22:6n-3), an omega-3 essential fatty acid family member, is the precursor of neuroprotectin D1, which downregulates apoptosis and, in turn, promotes cell survival. This study was conducted to assess whether DHA would show neuroprotective efficacy when systemically administered in different doses after middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo) in rats.
Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats were anesthetized with isoflurane and subjected to 2 hour of MCAo.