title: Phenylephrine-induced hypertension does not improve outcome after closed head trauma in rats.
abstract: Phenylephrine-induced hypertension (increase of 30-35 mm Hg for 15 min) is reported to increase cerebral perfusion pressure and collateral flow to ischemic areas of the brain in a rat model of focal cerebral ischemia. In the present study, we examined whether phenylephrine-induced hypertension of similar magnitude and duration was beneficial in a rat model of closed head trauma (CHT). Forty-eight rats were randomized into four experimental conditions: CHT at time 0 min (yes/no), plus phenylephrine-induced hypertension (increase of 30-35 mm Hg for 15 min) at 65 min (yes/no). CHT was delivered using a weight-drop device (0.5 J). Outcome measures were neurological severity score (NSS) at 1, 4, and 24 h, and brain tissue specific gravity (microgravimetry) and injury volume (2,3,5-triphenyltetrazoium chloride) at 24 h. After CHT, NSS at 24 h (median +/- range) and brain tissue specific gravity (mean +/- SD, injured hemisphere) were 7+/-2 and 1.033+/-0.007 without phenylephrine and 8+/-2 and 1.035+/-0.005 with phenylephrine (P = 0.43), respectively. Tissue injury volume (mean +/- SD) was 335+/-92 mm3 without phenylephrine and 357+/-154 mm3 with phenylephrine (P > 0.62). The results of our study indicate that postinjury treatment with 15 min of phenylephrine-induced hypertension does not attenuate brain edema, reduce tissue injury volume, or improve neurological outcome after CHT in rats.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Phenylephrine-induced hypertension is reported to increase cerebral perfusion pressure and blood flow in a rat model of focal cerebral ischemia. In our study, phenylephrine-induced hypertension did not decrease brain edema or tissue injury volume or improve neurological outcome in a rat model of closed head trauma.
authors.affiliation: Division of Anesthesiology, Soroka Medical Center, Faculty of Health Science, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Talmor
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Roytblat
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Artru
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Yuri
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Koyfman
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Katchko
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shapira
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D001929:Brain Edema / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D016489:Head Injuries, Closed / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006973:Hypertension / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010656:Phenylephrine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents; D010656:Phenylephrine