Brain Kynurenine Pathway and Functional Outcome of Rats Resuscitated From Cardiac Arrest

BACKGROUND: Brain injury and neurological deficit are consequences of cardiac arrest (CA), leading to high morbidity and mortality. Peripheral activation of the kynurenine pathway (KP), the main catabolic route of tryptophan metabolized at first into kynurenine, predicts poor neurological outcome in patients resuscitated after out‐of‐hospital CA. Here, we investigated KP activation in hippocampus and plasma of rats resuscitated from CA, evaluating the effect of KP modulation in preventing CA‐induced neurological deficit. METHODS AND RESULTS: Early KP activation was first demonstrated in 28 rats subjected to electrically induced CA followed by cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Hippocampal levels of the neuroactive metabolites kynurenine, 3‐hydroxy‐anthranilic acid, and kynurenic acid were higher 2 hours after CA, as in plasma. Further, 36 rats were randomized to receive the inhibitor of the first step of KP, 1‐methyl‐DL‐tryptophan, or vehicle, before CA. No differences were observed in hemodynamics and myocardial function. The CA‐induced KP activation, sustained up to 96 hours in hippocampus (and plasma) of vehicle‐treated rats, was counteracted by the inhibitor as indicated by lower hippocampal (and plasmatic) kynurenine/tryptophan ratio and kynurenine levels. 1‐Methyl‐DL‐tryptophan reduced the CA‐induced neurological deficits, with a significant correlation between the neurological score and the individual kynurenine levels, as well as the kynurenine/tryptophan ratio, in plasma and hippocampus. CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate the CA‐induced lasting activation of the first step of the KP in hippocampus, showing that this activation was involved in the evolving neurological deficit. The degree of peripheral activation of KP may predict neurological function after CA.