Comparison of intrathecal flunarizine and nimodipine treatments in cerebral vasospasm after experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage in rabbits.

BACKGROUND

the aim of this study was to assess and to compare the ability of intrathecal flunarizine and nimodipine to prevent vasospasm in a rabbit model of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH).

METHOD: forty male New Zealand white rabbits were allocated into 5 groups randomly. The treatment groups were as follows: (1) control (no SAH [n = 8]), (2) SAH only (n = 8), (3) SAH plus vehicle (n = 8), (4) SAH plus nimodipine (n = 8), and (5) SAH plus flunarizine (n = 8). Before sacrifice, all animals underwent femoral artery catheterization procedure by open surgery under anesthesia and angiography performed for each animal.

FINDINGS: there was a statistically significant difference between the mean basilar artery cross-sectional areas and the mean arterial wall thickness measurements of the control and SAH-only groups (p < 0.05). Basilar artery vessel diameter and luminal section areas in group 4 were significantly higher than in group 2 (p < 0.05). Basilar artery vessel diameter and basilar artery luminal section areas in group 5 were significantly higher than in group 2 (p < 0.05).Basilar artery vessel diameter and basilar artery luminal section areas in group 5 were significantly higher than in group 4 (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

these findings demonstrate that flunarizine has marked vasodilatatory effect in an experimental model of SAH in rabbits.