The Effect of Intravenous L-Carnitine on the Vasospasm Process in the Experimental Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Model.

Abstract

Cerebral vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality. In this study, we examined the effects of L-carnitine on the cerebral vasospasm process. Twenty male New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into 4 groups. Group 1 served as control; group 2 was not subjected to SAH and received intravenous L-carnitine 3 times; group 3 was subjected to SAH and group 4 was subjected to SAH and treated with 100 mg/kg intravenous L-carnitine at 0, 24, and 48 hours after SAH. All animals were euthanized by perfusion-fixation 72 hours after SAH induction. The brains were then removed and stored in fixative +4°C overnight. The subjects" basilar arteries were sectioned from four separate zones. Basilar artery cross-sectional areas and thicknesses of vessels were measured by using the SPOT for Windows Version 4.1 computer programme. Statistical comparisons were performed by using the Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests. Basilar artery wall thicknesses in group 4 were significantly lower than in group 3 (p=0.009). Basilar artery cross-sectional areas in group 4 were higher than in group 3 and the difference was statistically significant (p=0.008). L-carnitine was shown to be potentially beneficial on the resolution of cerebral vasospasm following SAH.