Dexanabinol prevents development of vasospasm in the rat femoral artery model.

We postulated that a multi-potential agent such as dexanabinol may prevent the development of vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage. We tested the effect of dexanabinol (10 mg/kg) on established vasospasm in a rat femoral artery model. Dexanabinol was given as single or repeated doses. On the 7th day after blood application, vessels were prepared for transmission electron microscopy studies, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate-biotin nick end labeling staining, and studying vessel morphology including luminal area and wall thickness. Application of blood to femoral artery caused a significant narrowing of luminal area (p<0.001) and a marked increase of radial wall thickness (p<0.001) when compared to controls. Similar to its single injection, repeated doses of dexanabinol markedly widened luminal area (p<0.001) near to control values (p>0.05) and decreased radial wall thickness significantly compared to hemorrhage (p<0.05) and vehicle-treated groups (for single p<0.05 and repetitive injections p<0.01). Both single and multiple dexanabinol injections also lowered apoptotic index (p<0.001). In conclusion, dexanabinol seems to prevent established vasospasm and endothelial cell apoptosis.