[Experimental study of evaluation on neuroprotective effect for tetramethylpyrazine against focal cerebral ischemic injury with diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the neuroprotective effect of tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) against focal cerebral ischemic injury in rats with diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWMRI).


METHODS
Rat models of focal cerebral ischemic injury were established in 16 male SD rats. They were randomly divided into the TMP group and the control group, eight in each group, and pretreated with TMP and normal saline respectively before modeling. Change of infarcted cerebral focus was observed with DWMRI at 1, 2, 6, 12 and 24 hrs after infarction, and the infarction volume (IV) at 24 hrs after modeling was estimated by triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) stain.


RESULTS
The IV in all time points observed in the TMP group with DWMRI was significantly smaller than that in the control group (P<0.01). Compared with that at 1 hr after infarction, in the control group at 2, 6, 12 and 24 hrs after modeling, the IV enlarged by 13.3%, 29.7%, 50.3% and 57.3% respectively, while that in the TMP group 9.9%, 21.3%, 37.1% and 40.5% respectively. The cerebral IV estimated by TTC stain 24 hrs after modeling was larger than that estimated by DWMRI.


CONCLUSIONS
TMP pretreatment before modeling was effective in protecting brain against cerebral ischemic damage in rats. DWMRI dynamic scanning observation has important significance in observing the cerebral ischemic developing process and evaluating the effectiveness of brain protective measures.
Hu
Sheng
S
Xijing Hospital, the Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032.
Chen
Shao-yang
SY
Xiong
Li-ze
LZ
Wei
Meng-qi
MQ
Liu
Yan-hong
YH
Huan
Yi
Y
D000818:Animals; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D020244:Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008517:Phytotherapy; D011719:Pyrazines / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D011719:Pyrazines; C017953:tetramethylpyrazine