Application of EPR Spectroscopy to Study the Content of NO and Copper in the Frontal Lobes, Hippocampus, and Liver of Rats after Cerebral Ischemia

To record the content of nitric oxide (NO) and copper in the brain tissues (frontal lobes and hippocampus) and liver of healthy rats and rats after ischemia modeling, the method of electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy was used. Modeling of ischemia was carried out by ligation of the carotid arteries, followed by taking 3 mL of blood from the common carotid artery. Signals from the ternary complexes (DETC) 2 –Fe 2+ –NO and the Cu(DETC) 2 complex were recorded by EPR spectroscopy. Based on direct measurements by EPR spectroscopy, it was shown that 1 day after ischemia modeling, NO production in the hippocampus decreases by an average of 30%, and there is a tendency to a decrease in NO in the frontal lobes and liver. The content of copper a day after modeling ischemia decreased in the frontal lobes by an average of three times and in the hippocampus by an average of 20%, while in the liver there was a tendency to decrease. Thus, cerebral hypoxia is accompanied not only by a decrease in NO production, but also by signs of a weakening of the antioxidant system in the hippocampus and frontal lobes, which additionally worsens the functional state of the homeostasis system.