Neuroprotective effect of lateral ventricle infusion of low-temperature fluid following focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion in rabbits

Wei WU; Huilin CHENG; Jixin SHI; Guiqin SUN; Hongxia YIN

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:

Neuroprotective role of hypothermia on cerebral ischemic-reperfusional impairment has been long acknowledged. Since general hypothermia is complicated and unfit for observing postoperative consciousness and neurological function, it is of important significance to explore novel methods of focal cerebral hypothermia.

OBJECTIVE:

To study the neuroprotective effect of lateral ventricle infusion of low-temperature fluid on ischemic neurons of middle cerebral artery (MAC) occlusion models established on New Zealand rabbits.

DESIGN:

A randomized case-control study based on experimental animal models.

SETTING:

Neurosurgical department and pathological department of a general military hospital of Chinese PLA.MATERIALS This study was carried out at Neurosurgical Laboratory of Nanjing General Hospital, Nanjing Military Area Command of Chinese PLA. Altogether 18 healthy New Zealand male rabbits, weighing from 2. 8 to 3.2 kg, were selected 4 - 6 months after birth, and randomly divided into occlusion group, hypothermia group and control group.

INTERVENTIONS:

Cerebral focal ischemic-reperfusional model was established on the New Zealand rabbits through MCA occlusion for 2 hours followed by reperfusion for 24 hours.MAIN OUTCOME

MEASURES:

Scores for neurological function, water content in the left and right brain, pathological changes of nerve cells in the left MCA supplying region.pothermia group, significantly higher than that in occlusion group(7.58 ± 0.58 )( P ＜ 0.01 ), but no significant difference could be observed in contrast with brain was(81.64 ± 0.82)% and (79.26 ± 1.30)% in occlusion and hypothermia groups with significant difference between them( P ＜ 0.05), and it was significantly different between the left side [ (81.64 ± 0. 82 )% ] and opyknosis and deep staining could be observed in nerve ganglion cells in occlusion group under optical microscope, but no obvious pathological changes were observed in MCA supplying brain regions in hypothermia group.

CONCLUSION:

Permanent infusion of low-temperature fluid into the lateral ventricle plays an important neuroprotective role by attenuating cerebral ischemic-reperfusional impairment and improving post-ischemic neurological functions.