Turkish Neurosurgery
Vasorelaxant and neuroprotective effects of mildronate in a rabbit subarachnoid hemorrhage model
Muhammed Taha Eser1, Pınar Kuru Bektaşoğlu2, Bora Gürer2, Hüseyin Bozkurt3, Mehmet Sorar1, Özden Çağlar Öztürk2, Ata Türker Arıkök4, Hayri Kertmen1
1Turkish Ministry of Health, University of Health Sciences, Dışkapı Education and Research Hospital, Department of Neurosurgery, Ankara,
2Turkish Ministry of Health, University of Health Sciences, Fatih Sultan Mehmet Education and Research Hospital, Department of Neurosurgery, Istanbul,
3Cumhuriyet University School of Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery, Sivas,
4Turkish Ministry of Health, University of Health Sciences, Dışkapı Education and Research Hospital, Department of Pathology, Ankara,
DOI: 10.5137/1019-5149.JTN.24647-18.3

Aim:Mildronate is an anti-ischemic drug developed to treat ischemic cardiac disease. Its vasodilatory and neuroprotective effects have been shown previously. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of mildronate on subarachnoid hemorrhage-induced vasospasm.Material and Methods:Rabbits were randomly divided into four groups: control, subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), vehicle, and mildronate (n = 8 animals per group). In the treatment group, 200 mg/kg of mildronate were intraperitoneally administered 5 min after the procedure and continued for 3 days as daily administrations of the same dose. At the end of the third day, the cerebrum, cerebellum, and brain stem were perfused, fixated, and removed for histopathological examination. Tissues were examined for arterial wall thickness, luminal area, and hippocampal neuronal degeneration.Results:Mildronate group showed significantly increased luminal area and reduced wall thickness of the basilar artery compared with the subarachnoid hemorrhage group. In addition, the hippocampal cell degeneration score was significantly lower in the mildronate group than in the SAH and vehicle groups.Conclusion:These results show that mildronate exerts protective effects against subarachnoid hemorrhage-induced vasospasm and secondary neural injury.

Corresponding author : Pınar Kuru Bektaşoğlu