0000000000680842
AUTHOR
J. Eriskat
Glutamate Enhances Brain Damage from Ischemia and Trauma
The amino acid glutamate is a model agent to demonstrate the significance of neurotoxic mediator compounds in secondary brain damage from trauma, ischemia or other adverse conditions. Intensive research of the role of mediator compounds is clinically worthwile as more specific forms of treatment may emerge for the benefit of afflicted patients. In view of the great number of factors, cytokines, etc., which could play a role, it is mandatory that a mediator function in secondary brain damage is identified according to the stringent requirements established for that purpose. Glutamate has been shown — as is the case for only a few other agents — to meet all the criteria of a mediator of secon…
Secondary Growth of a Primary Brain Tissue Necrosis from a Focal Lesion
Traumatic brain injury is associated with the development of secondary brain damage, such as brain edema, intracranial hypertension, and cerebral ischemia [1]. A novel aspect is that a primary necrosis of brain parenchyma evolving from a focal cerebral insult may be subjected to secondary growth. Experiments utilizing different methods of brain injury have consistently confirmed an increase in size of the resulting tissue necrosis within 24 h, amounting to 50% in rats [3, 7, 10] and even 300% in rabbits [11]. It is not clear yet, however, whether the phenomenon reflects a delayed but irreversible primary process which is resistant to treatment or a manifestation of secondary brain damage, t…