J Korean Neurosurg Soc.  1987 Dec;16(4):1091-1104.

The Effect of the Calcium Antagonist Nimodipine on Cerebral Cortical Blood Flow in the Experimentally Induced Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

• Huh SK
• Lee KC

Abstract

The effect of the calcium antagonist nimodipine on the feline cerebral cortical blood flow in experimentally induced subarachnoid hemorrhage(SAH) was studied. Cerebral cortical blood flow was measured in the middle cerebral territory at specified intervals by the hydrogen clearance method. SAH was induced in 25 cats by a slow injection of fresh autogenous arterial blood into the cisterna magna. Twenty-five cats were divided into 5 groups of 5 cats each according to the timing of the cerebral cortical blood flow measurements after SAH ; immediate(Group la, lb), 24 hours(Group 2), 48 hours(Group 3) and 7 days (Group 4). Cerebral cortical blood flow dereased by 55.5%, 39.2%, 41.4%, and 38.3% from pre-SAH levels in each group respectively. During nimodipine infusion(1 microgram/kg/min) cerebral cortical flow increased by 89.0%, 51.8%, 87.5% and 24.5% from pre-nimodipine infusion levels in each group respectively. Mean arterial blood pressure(MABP) after cisternal blood injection increased by 6.5% from pre-SAH levles, and MABP during nimodipine infusion decreased by 15.4% from pre-Nimodipine infusion levels. The calcium antagonist nimodipine increased cerebral cortical blood flow significantly in experimentally induced SAH without considerable changes of MABP. Results are considered promising for trials in the treatment and prevention of cerebral by vasospasm following SAH.

MeSH Terms

Animals
Calcium*
Cats
Cisterna Magna
Hydrogen
Nimodipine*
Subarachnoid Hemorrhage*
Calcium
Hydrogen
Nimodipine