title: [Effect of progesterone on cerebral cortex edema in rats exposed to focal ischemia/reperfusion].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the effects of progesterone (PROG) on brain edema in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty eight rats were randomly divided into 6 groups that were ischemia/reperfusion (I/R), dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), and pretreatment, pre + posttreatment, posttreatment with PROG, and dexamethasone (DEXA) groups. The model of focal cerebral ischemia was established in rats by reversible inserting a nylon thread into the anterior cerebral artery. All rats were decapitated at 24 hours after the left middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) respectively, and then brain H2O, Na+, K+, Ca2+ contents were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with the result in DMSO group, the content of water (P < 0.01), Na+ (P < 0.01), Ca2+ (P < 0.01) was significantly reduced, but K+ (P < 0.01) was obviously elevated in ischemia cortex in pretreatment group or pre + posttreatment group with PROG. There was also significant reduction in water (P < 0.05) and Na+ (P < 0.01), but was not significantly changed in Ca2+ (P > 0.05) and K+ (P > 0.05) in posttreatment group with PROG. The changes occurring in DEXA group were similar to those found in pretreatment group or pre + posttreatment group with PROG.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pretreatment or pretreatment plus posttreatment with progesterone can significantly reduce brain edema in I/R.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Xinxiang Medical College, Xinxiang 453003, China.
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: H G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: D X
authors.initials: DX
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Y F
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Ding
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001929:Brain Edema / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000188:drug therapy; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D011374:Progesterone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D011374:Progesterone; D003907:Dexamethasone