Animal toxins as alternative treatments after stroke

Ischemic stroke (IS) is the second leading cause of mortality and chronic disability globally.

• Blockages in blood vessels form clots in the brain, triggering multiple harmful interactions.
• Key processes involved in IS include excitotoxicity, acidosis, ionic imbalance, inflammation, oxidative stress, and neuronal dysfunction.
• The FDA has currently approved only tissue plasminogen activator therapy for IS, which has several limitations.
• Research into excitotoxicity and acidosis suggests potential therapeutic candidates for IS.
• Animal toxins have emerged as novel inhibitors of acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) and voltage-gated calcium channels (VDCCs), offering neuroprotective insights.

Simplified