Time-Dependent Neurovascular Effects of Thymoquinone on Basilar Artery Morphometry in a Rat Model of Subarachnoid Haemorrhage.

AIM: To investigate the effects of short- and long-term intraperitoneal thymoquinone administration on basilar artery morphometry and cerebral perfusion in a subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) model. MATERIAL and METHODS: Forty-two adult male Wistar rats were randomly allocated to seven experimental groups, including control, sham, untreated SAH, and SAH groups treated with vehicle or thymoquinone (10 mg/kg/day) for 3 or 8 days. SAH was induced by autologous blood injection into the cisterna magna, and animals were sacrificed on days 3 or 8. Basilar artery luminal and tunica media areas were assessed using unbiased stereological methods. Cerebral blood flow was measured by laser Doppler flowmetry, and neurological function was evaluated as a secondary outcome. RESULTS: Basilar artery luminal area differed significantly among experimental groups (p.