Effects of magnesium sulfate on traumatic brain edema in rats.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of magnesium sulfate on traumatic brain edema and explore its possible mechanism.


METHODS
Forty-eight Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into three groups: Control, Trauma and Treatment groups. In Treatment group, magnesium sulfate was intraperitoneally administered immediately after the induction of brain trauma. At 24 h after trauma, total tissue water content and Na(+), K(+), Ca(2+), Mg(2+) contents were measured. Permeability of blood-brain barrier (BBB) was assessed quantitatively by Evans Blue (EB) dye technique. The pathological changes were also studied.


RESULTS
Water, Na(+), Ca(2+) and EB contents in Treatment group were significantly lower than those in Trauma group (P<0.05). Results of light microscopy and electron microscopy confirmed that magnesium sulfate can attenuate traumatic brain injury and relieve BBB injury.


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment with MgSO4 in the early stage can attenuate traumatic brain edema and prevent BBB injury.
Feng
Dong-fu
DF
Department of Neurosurgery, Baogang Hospital, Shanghai Second Medical University, Shanghai 201900, China. feng_df@yahoo.com
Zhu
Zhi-an
ZA
Lu
Yi-cheng
YC
D000818:Animals; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D001929:Brain Edema / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D008278:Magnesium Sulfate / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D008278:Magnesium Sulfate