New Evidence of Neuroprotection by Lactate after Transient Focal Cerebral Ischaemia: Extended Benefit after Intracerebroventricular Injection and Efficacy of Intravenous Administration

The beneficial effect of lactate is long-lasting: lactate protects the mouse brain against ischaemic damage when supplied intracerebroventricularly during reperfusion with behavioural and histological benefits persisting 2 weeks after ischaemia. Importantly, lactate also protects after systemic intravenous administration, a more suitable route of administration in a clinical emergency setting. These findings provide further steps to bring this physiological, commonly available and inexpensive neuroprotectant closer to clinical translation for stroke.