Comparison of the Cerebral Protective Effects of Thiopental, Propofol and Dantrolene on Focal Cerebral Ischemia Induced by Temporary Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion in the Rat Under the Monitoring of Compressed Spectral Array

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: We evaluate the cerebral protective effect of thiopental, propofol and dantrolene in middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO) model of rats, which ventilated spontaneously and showed definitely decreased EEG activities which is compatible with cerebral focal ischemia. METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats were anesthetized with halothane. In control group, halothane(1-1.3 vol%) was inhaled by mask. In thiopental and propofol group, halothane was switched to each drug about 20 minutes before MCAO. In dantrolene group, dantrolene was administered 20 minutes before MCAO with halothane inhalation. Middle cerebral artery was occluded for 120 minutes. The focal ischemic proess was confirmed by ipsilateral suppression of EEG, expressed by compressed spectral array. The volume percentage of infarcted brain was measured. RESULTS: The percentage of infarct volume in thiopental group(13.7+/-4.6%) was significantly smaller than other groups(control group 28.4+/-4.2%, propofol group32.3+/-6.7%, dantrolene group 31.9+/-5.4%). But, there was no statistically meaningful difference between control group, propofol group, and dantrolene group. CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate that only thiopental has brain protective effect against focal cerebral ischemia.