Topiramate attenuates hippocampal injury after experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage in rabbits.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate the ability of topiramate (TPM) to prevent neural injury in a rabbit model of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). The effect of TPM on cerebral vasospasm was also evaluated.


METHODS
Fifty-three New Zealand white rabbits were allocated into three groups randomly. SAH was induced by injecting autologous blood into the cisterna magna. The treatment groups were as follows: (1) sham operated (no SAH (n=18); (2) SAH only (n=17); (3) SAH + TPM (n=18). Hippocampal sections were evaluated for neural tissue degeneration, using the previously described neural degeneration scoring system. The ApopTag peroxidase in situ apoptosis detection kit (Serologicals Corp., former Intergen) was used to assess apoptosis in the hippocampal sections and the effect of TPM on the apoptotic response. Basilar artery lumen areas and arterial wall thickness were also measured in all groups.


RESULTS
There was a statistically significant difference between the mean degeneration scores of the control and SAH only groups (p<0.05). The level of neural degeneration in TPM treated group was significantly lower compared with SAH only group (p<0.05), but not significantly higher than the control group (p>0.05). There were no statistically significant differences between arterial cross-sectional area and arterial wall thickness measurements of the SAH group and SAH + TPM group.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings demonstrate that TPM has marked neuroprotective effect in an experimental model of SAH in rabbits. This observation may have clinical implications suggesting that this antiepileptic drug could be used as a possible neuroprotective agent in patients without major adverse effects.
Seçkin
Hakan
H
Ministry of Health, Dişkapi Educational and Research Hospital, 2nd Neurosurgery Clinic, Ankara, Turkey. hakanseckin@tr.net
Simşek
Serkan
S
Oztürk
Evrim
E
Yigitkanli
Kazim
K
Ozen
Ozlem
O
Beşalti
Omer
O
Solaroğlu
Ihsan
I
Bavbek
Murad
M
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001488:Basilar Artery / Q000473:pathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005632:Fructose / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011817:Rabbits; D013345:Subarachnoid Hemorrhage / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D000077236:Topiramate
D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D000077236:Topiramate; D005632:Fructose