Ebselen (PZ-51) Inhibits the Formation of Ischemic Brain Edema

Abstract

Recent evidence has suggested the involvement of lipoxygenase metabolites (Asano et al. 1985; Dempsey et al. 1986) and/or active oxygen such as superoxide anion (Chan et al. 1985) in the development of ischemic brain edema. Ebselen (PZ-51; Fig. 1) is a novel organoselenium compound which catalytically inactivates peroxides in vitro in a manner similar to that of glutathione peroxides (Müller et al. 1984). In addition, this compound has an inhibitory effect on lipoxygenase and reduces leukotriene B₄ formation with a concomitant decrease in 5-HETE production (Kuhl et al. 1986).

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