Effects of raloxifene on cerebral vasospasm after experimental Subarachnoid Hemorrhage in rabbits.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to investigate the ability of a SERM, RLX, to prevent vasospasm in a rabbit model of SAH.


METHODS
Thirty-four New Zealand white rabbits were allocated into 3 groups randomly. Subarachnoid hemorrhage was induced by injecting autologous blood into the cisterna magna. The treatment groups were as follows: (1) sham operated (no SAH [n = 12]), (2) SAH only (n = 12), and (3) SAH plus RLX (n = 10). Basilar artery lumen areas and arterial wall thickness were measured to assess vasospams in all groups.


RESULTS
There was a statistically significant difference between the mean basilar artery cross-sectional areas and the mean arterial wall thickness measurements of the control and SAH-only groups (P < .05). The difference between the mean basilar artery cross-sectional areas and the mean arterial wall thickness measurements in the RLX-treated group was statistically significant (P < .05). The difference between the SAH group and the SAH + RLX group was also statistically significant (P < .05).


CONCLUSIONS
These findings demonstrate that RLX has marked vasodilatatory effect in an experimental model of SAH in rabbits. This observation may have clinical implications suggesting that this SERM drug could be used as possible anti-vasospastic agent in patients without major adverse effects.
Gürses
Levent
L
Ministry of Health, Dişkapi Educational and Research Hospital, 2nd Neurosurgery Clinic, Ankara, Turkey.
Seçkin
Hakan
H
Simşek
Serkan
S
Senel
O Oytun
OO
Yigitkanli
Kazim
K
Oztürk
Evrim
E
Beşalti
Omer
O
Belen
Deniz
D
Bavbek
Murad
M
D000818:Animals; D001488:Basilar Artery / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D020746:Calcium Channels, L-Type / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002536:Cerebral Arteries / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006152:Cyclic GMP / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D018994:Myosin Light Chains / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D011817:Rabbits; D020849:Raloxifene Hydrochloride / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020845:Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013345:Subarachnoid Hemorrhage / Q000150:complications*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020301:Vasospasm, Intracranial / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology
D020746:Calcium Channels, L-Type; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D018994:Myosin Light Chains; D020845:Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D020849:Raloxifene Hydrochloride; D006152:Cyclic GMP