Comparison of intrathecal flunarizine and nimodipine treatments in cerebral vasospasm after experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage in rabbits.
BACKGROUND
the aim of this study was to assess and to compare the ability of intrathecal flunarizine and nimodipine to prevent vasospasm in a rabbit model of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH).


METHODS
forty male New Zealand white rabbits were allocated into 5 groups randomly. The treatment groups were as follows: (1) control (no SAH [n = 8]), (2) SAH only (n = 8), (3) SAH plus vehicle (n = 8), (4) SAH plus nimodipine (n = 8), and (5) SAH plus flunarizine (n = 8). Before sacrifice, all animals underwent femoral artery catheterization procedure by open surgery under anesthesia and angiography performed for each animal.


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 < 0.05). Basilar artery vessel diameter and luminal section areas in group 4 were significantly higher than in group 2 (p < 0.05). Basilar artery vessel diameter and basilar artery luminal section areas in group 5 were significantly higher than in group 2 (p < 0.05).Basilar artery vessel diameter and basilar artery luminal section areas in group 5 were significantly higher than in group 4 (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
these findings demonstrate that flunarizine has marked vasodilatatory effect in an experimental model of SAH in rabbits.
Department of Neurosurgery, Gulhane Military Academy, Ugur Mumcunun Sokak, 78/2, 06700, Gaziosmanpasa, Ankara, Turkey. civsurgeon@yahoo.com
Erdinc
E
Civelek
Ilker
I
Solmaz
Mehmet Bulent
MB
Onal
Atilla
A
Kircelli
Caglar
C
Temiz
Halil Ibrahim
HI
Secer
Yusuf
Y
Izci
Engin
E
Gonul
D015901:Angiography, Digital Subtraction / Q000379:methods; D000818:Animals; D001488:Basilar Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005444:Flunarizine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007278:Injections, Spinal / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D009553:Nimodipine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011817:Rabbits; D013345:Subarachnoid Hemorrhage / Q000150:complications; D013997:Time Factors; D020301:Vasospasm, Intracranial / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology
D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D009553:Nimodipine; D005444:Flunarizine