Comparison of intrathecal dotarizine and nimodipine treatments in cerebral vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage: an experimental study in rabbits.
BACKGROUND
cerebral vasospasm (CVS) is one of the most considerable complications of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). The aim of this study was to assess and to compare the ability of intrathecal dotarizine and nimodipine to prevent and treat vasospasm in a rabbit model of subarachnoid hemorrhage.


METHODS
thirty male New Zealand white rabbits weighing 2,500-3,000 g were allocated into five groups randomly. The treatment groups were as follows: Control, only SAH, SAH/Dotarizine, SAH/Nimodipine, SAH/Vehicle. Forty-eight hours after SAH injection, all animals underwent femoral artery catheterization procedure by open surgery under anesthesia and angiography performed for each animal in the fifth day just before sacrifice.


RESULTS
basilar artery vessel diameters are measured by angiography. Basilar artery vessel diameters and luminal sectional areas are measured in pathology slides. 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).


CONCLUSIONS
these findings demonstrate that calcium channel blocker dotarizine has marked vasodilatory effect in an experimental model of SAH in rabbits. Nimodipine is an effect-proven agent in CVS, but dotarizine may take place of it.
Department of Neurosurgery, Gulhane Military Academy, Ugur Mumcunun Sokak, 78/2, 06700, Gaziosmanpasa, Ankara, Turkey. bulentonal@hotmail.com
Mehmet Bulent
MB
Onal
Ilker
I
Solmaz
Erdinc
E
Civelek
Atilla
A
Kircelli
Ozkan
O
Tehli
Yusuf
Y
Izci
Ersin
E
Erdogan
Engin
E
Gonul
D015901:Angiography, Digital Subtraction / Q000379:methods; D000818:Animals; D001488:Basilar Artery / Q000473:pathology; D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007278:Injections, Spinal / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D009553:Nimodipine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010879:Piperazines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011817:Rabbits; D013345:Subarachnoid Hemorrhage / Q000150:complications; D013997:Time Factors; D020301:Vasospasm, Intracranial / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality
D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D010879:Piperazines; D009553:Nimodipine; C083946:dotarizine