RESUMEN
Objective: To determine the effects of cobalt nitrate on the arterial wall in a rat femoral artery vasospasm model
Study Design: Experimental study
Place and Duration of Study: Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, between November 2009 and September 2010
Methodology: Twenty-four rats were separated into three groups named group 1 [n=8, sham-control]; group 2 [n=8, vasospasm], and group 3 [n=8, vasospasm + cobalt nitrate treated]. Group 3 rats were subjected to intraperitoneal administration of 0.1 mg/kg/day cobalt nitrate for 7 days, followed by histological and morphometric analyses. ANOVAand post hoc analyses were carried out
Results: The mean vascular wall thickness of the group 1, 2 and 3 rats was found to be 133 +/- 13, 210 +/-15 and 160 +/- 11 micron, respectively. The mean vascular lumen diameter of the group 1, 2 and 3 rats was 698 +/- 20, 240 +/- 15 and 540 +/- 22 micron, respectively. Arteries in the group 3 had thin smooth endothelium, thin mildly folded internal elastic lamina, and concentric smooth muscle cells. The mean vascular lumen diameter of the group 3 rats showed a significant decrease compared to the group 2 rats
Conclusion: Cobalt nitrate may potentially serve as an agent in preventing cerebral vasospasm after a hemorrhagic episode