Protective effect of mitochondria-targeted antioxidant SS31 on early brain injury following subarachnoid hemorrhage in rats

Abstract

To evaluate protective effects of SS31 on early brain injury (EBI) induced by subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) in rats. Methods: A total of 96 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: A sham group, an SAH group, an SAH+vehicle group (SAH+V), and an SAH+SS31 group. The SAH-induced prechiasmatic cistern rat model was established in this study. Neurological deficit scores were evaluated at 24 h after SAH. The SS31 (5 mg/kg) as well as equal volume of vehicle were administrated intraperitoneally at 2 h after SAH. The neurological scores, brain edema, blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability, apoptosis, malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity, superoride dismutase (SOD) activity, and the expression of cytosolic cytochrome c (Cyt C) and Bax were analyzed at 24 h after SAH. Results: Treatment with SS31 could significantly reduce MDA levels, and restored the activities of GPx and SOD in the cortex following SAH when compared with the SAH+V group. In addition, Bax SS31 trearment increased or decreased the levels of mitochondrial Cyt C or Bax, respectively. Moreover, SS31 treatment ameliorated brain edema and Evans blue dye extravasation, improved neurological deficits, and decreased neuronal apoptosis at 24 h after SAH. Conclusion: SS31 could alleviate EBI after SAH through its antioxidant property and ability in inhibition of neuronal apoptosis.