Sequential change of capillary permeability in the rat brain after surgical removal of an experimental brain tumor.

Abstract

Experimental brain tumors were excised from rats for sequential observation of changes in local capillary permeability during the postsurgical period. Experimental brain tumor-bearing rats were prepared by stereotaxic transplantation of cultured tumor cells and the resultant tumor was delineated by administration of a dye. Following excision of the stained tumor by craniotomy, sequential changes in local capillary permeability were quantitatively followed-up by autoradiography, using 14C-amino-isobutyric acid as a tracer. Capillary permeability was enhanced following surgery, reaching a maximum both in the extent and degree on the third day. After undergoing a gradual reduction, it showed a marked increase for the second time in a very small area on the 10th postoperative day. A recurrence of the tumor was responsible for this late but marked increase. For a control group, the caudate nucleus was excised from normal rats, followed by observation of the sequential changes in the local capillary permeability. Due to surgical procedure, capillary permeability reached a maximum both in the extent and degree on the 5th postoperative day (slightly later than in the tumor group). This change in capillary permeability was less pronounced than in the tumor group. The difference in the conditions of surgery--tumor excision and partial excision of a normal brain tissue--appeared to explain this difference. The results of this study indicated that it is more desirable to give water-soluble antineoplastic agents early during the postoperative period for chemotherapy of a malignant brain tumor after surgery.