Effect of thyrotropin-releasing hormone on cerebral free radical reactions following acute brain injury in rabbits.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the early effect of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) on cerebral free radical reactions after acute brain injury in rabbits.


METHODS
30 healthy white rabbits were randomly divided into three groups: Group A (n=10), Group B (n=12) and Group C (n=8). The rabbits in Group A and Group B were injured by direct hit. At 0.5-4 hours after injury, the rabbits in Group A were injected with TRH (8 mg/kg body weight) through a vein and the rabbits in Group B were injected with normal saline of equal volume. The rabbits in Group C served as the normal control. Then all the rabbits were killed and brain tissues were obtained. The content of lipoperoxide (LPO), the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the water content of the brain tissues were measured.


RESULTS
The contents of LPO and water in brain tissues in Group A were lower and the activity of SOD was higher than those of Group B (P<0.05). After injury, intracranial pressure (ICP) rose rapidly and continuously with time passing by. When TRH was given to the animals in Group A, the rising speed of ICP slowed down significantly.


CONCLUSIONS
TRH can decrease the cerebral free radical reactions and cerebral edema after acute brain injury in rats.
Niu
Guang-Ming
GM
Department of Neurosurgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Technology and Science, Wuhan 430030, China. niuguangming63@sohu.com
Gu
Xiu-Juan
XJ
Su
Yu-Lin
YL
Wan
Feng
F
Su
Fang-Zhong
FZ
Xue
De-Lin
DL
D000818:Animals; D001929:Brain Edema / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005609:Free Radicals / Q000378:metabolism*; D007427:Intracranial Pressure; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D008297:Male; D011817:Rabbits; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*
D005609:Free Radicals; D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase