Intravenous phosphocreatine improves neurological outcome in focal cerebral ischaemia and reperfusion

Background: Intracellular phosphocreatine (PCr) acts as an anaerobe energy source to convert ADP to ATP and may thus be of potential benefit in ischaemic stroke. We investigated the effect of intravenous PCr on clinical outcome and infarct size in rats with transient focal cerebral ischaemia. Methods: Male Wistar rats weighing 280 to 320 grams were subjected to 90 minutes of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCA-O) by trans-carotid filament placement. During ischaemia, animals received normal saline (n=11) or PCr (n=12; 100mg/ml in normal saline) via the femoral vein. One ml was given as a bolus over 15 minutes…