Cyclooxygenase-2–dependent Superoxide Generation Contributes to Age-dependent Impairment of G Protein–mediated Cerebrovasodilation

Abstract

Background Previous studies have observed that activation of cyclooxygenase-2 contributes to generation of superoxide anion after fluid percussion brain injury (FPI). This study was designed to characterize the effects of FPI on the vascular activity of two activators of a pertussis toxin-sensitive G protein, mastoparan and mastoparan-7, and the role of cyclooxygenase-2-dependent superoxide anion generation in such effects as a function of age. Methods Lateral FPI was induced in anesthetized newborn (1-5-day-old) and juvenile (3-4-week-old) pigs equipped with a closed cranial window. Results Mastoparan (10(-8), 10(-6) M) elicited pial artery dilation that was blunted more in newborn versus juvenile pigs (9 +/- 1 and 16 +/- 1 vs. 3 +/- 1 and 5 +/- 1%, newborn; 9 +/- 1 and 15 +/- 1 vs. 6 +/- 1 and 9 +/- 1%, juveniles). Similar results were observed for mastoparan-7 but the inactive analog mastoparan-17 had no effect on pial artery diameter. Indomethacin (a cyclooxygenase-1 and cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor), NS398 (a cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor), and polyethylene glycol superoxide dismutase and catalase (free radical scavengers) partially restored impaired mastoparan dilation after FPI in the newborn in a roughly equivalent manner but not in the juvenile (3 +/- 1 and 5 +/- 1 vs. 8 +/- 1 and 13 +/- 1% newborn, 6 +/- 1 and 9 +/- 1 vs. 7 +/- 1 and 10 +/- 1% juvenile for NS398 pretreatment). Conclusions These data show that G protein activation elicits cerebrovasodilation that is blunted following FPI in an age-dependent manner, and suggest that cyclooxygenase-2-dependent superoxide anion generation contributes to G protein activation-induced dilator impairment after the insult in an age-dependent manner.