Preventive effects of nitrate against ischemic brain injury

在本研究中，我们研究了亚硝酸盐是否对大鼠大脑中动脉闭塞再灌注（MCAO/Re）和慢性脑灌注不足（2VO）所致的缺血性脑损伤具有保护作用。我们发现静脉注射亚硝酸盐可以减少MCAO/Re后大鼠脑梗死体积、水肿和凋亡细胞数量。长期补充亚硝酸盐可改善2VO大鼠的吞咽反射。上述结果提示，膳食中添加亚硝酸盐可减轻缺血性脑损伤和脑卒中后吞咽困难。

In the present study, we investigated whether nitrite exerts protective effects against ischemic brain injury induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion following reperfusion (MCAO/Re) or by chronic cerebral hypoperfusion (2VO)in rats. We found that infract volume, edema, and the number of apoptotic cells in the rat brain determined after MCAO/Re were reduced by intravenous injection of nitrite. Chronic supplementation of nitrite improved the swallowing reflex in the 2VO rats. These results suggest that dietary supplementation of nitrite may relieve the ischemic brain injury and post-stroke dysphagia.