Effect of edaravone on permeability of blood-brain barrier in septic rats

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the effects of edaravone on the permeability of blood-brain barrier in septic rats.Methods Ninety male Sprague-Dawley rats,weighing 200-250 g,were randomly divided into 3 groups (n=30 each):control group (group C),sepsis group (group lipopolysaccharide (LPS)) and edaravone group (group E).Sepsis was induced by injection of LPS 10 mg/kg via the femoral vein in LPS and E groups.After LPS injection,edaravone 3.0 mg/kg was injected intravenously every 2h for 7 times in group E.The equal volume of normal saline was administered instead of edaravone in C and LPS groups.At 2,6 and 12h after LPS injection,5 rats were chosen and Evan's blue (EB) was injected via the femoral vein,and then the rats were sacrificed and brain tissues were removed for determination of EB and water contents.Another 5 rats were chosen and blood samples were taken from the femoral artery for measurement of serum MDA concentration,and then the rats were sacrificed and the brain tissue was harvested for microscopic examination.Results Compared with group C,brain water and EB contents were significantly increased at 6 and 12h after LPS injection,and the serum MDA concentration was increased at 2,6 and 12h after LPS injection in LPS and E groups (P ＜ 0.05).Compared with group LPS,brain water and EB contents were significantly decreased at 6 and 12h after LPS injection,and serum MDA concentrations were decreased at 2,6 and 12h after LPS injection in group E (P ＜ 0.05).Sepsis-induced pathological changes were significantly attenuated in group E.Conclusion Edaravone can decrease the permeability of blood-brain barrier,attenuate brain edema and brain injury in septic rats,and reduction of oxygen free radical production may be involved in the mechanism. Key words: Free radical scavengers; Sepsis; Blood-brain barrier