Effects of Vitamin C on the Prevention of Ischemia-Reperfusion Brain Injury: Experimental Study in Rats

BACKGROUND: Reperfusion syndrome after carotid endarterectomy is a complication associated with cerebrovascular self-regulation in a chronically hypoperfused cerebral hemisphere, leading to severe neurological damage. Vitamin C is an important antioxidant in brain metabolism that has shown some neuroprotective actions. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the potential effects of vitamin C on cerebral reperfusion in comparison with placebo (saline) in rats. METHODS: Male Wistar rats were divided into 3 groups: (i) Sham (n = 4), animals exposed to carotid arteries dissection without clamping; (ii) Control (n = 4), animals exposed to carotid arteries dissection without clamping; (ii) Control (n = 4), animals exposed to carotid arteries dissection without clamping; (ii) Control ( RESULTS: Rats treated with vitamin C presented with a similar behavior as compared to the Sham group in all the three tests (p > 0.05), but it was significantly different from controls (p > 0.05), but it was significantly different from controls (p > 0.05), but it was significantly different from controls ( CONCLUSION: In the present study, vitamin C was associated with behavioral and motor preservation as well as decreased cerebral MDA levels after induced cerebral ischemia in rats.