Effect of Pentobarbital on Experimental Brain Edema in Rabbit

ABSTRACT

This study was undertaken to identify the effect of pentobarbital on the traumatic brain edema in the rabbit by measuring the regional specific gravity with modified serial copper sulfate method. After delivery of brain injury on the frontal area, the animals were sacrificed at 30 minutes, 2 hours, 4 hours and 6 hours. And the regional specific gravity was taken in the frontal lobe, occipital lobe, basal ganglia, cerebellum, pons and medulla. The specific gravity after administration of pentobarbital(40mg/kg) in the head-injured rabbit was also taken with the same method and compared with the specific gravity in the absence of pentobarbital to identify the effect of pentobarbital on the brain edema. The results were summarized as follows 1) The brain edema was peak at 4 hours after head trauma. 2) Significant increase of specific gravity was noted in all regions at 30 minutes, 2 hours and 4 hours after administration of pentobarbital. The findings were similar to both contused and uncontused sides. But all specific gravity data were decreased in all regions at 6 hours. 3) The decrease in brain water content was peak at 30 minutes after administration of pentobarbital, but almost brain water content was reversely increased at 6 hours. These results suggest that the pentobarbital was effective in decreasing the brain edema.