Abstract
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.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Beck TH, Nuglisch J, Bielenberg GW, Mennel HD, Rossberg CH, Krieglstein J. Effects of flunarizine on postischemic blood flow, energy metabolism and neuronal damage in the rat brain. Eur J Pharmacol. 1988;158:271–4.
Edmonds HL, Wauquier A, Melis W, Van den Broeck WAE, Van Loon J, Janssen PAJ. Improved short term neurological recovery with flunarizine in a canine model of cardiac arrest. Am J Emerg Med. 1985;3:155–8.
Fujita S, Kawaguchi T, Shose Y, Urui S. Flunarizine treatment in poor-grade aneurysm patients. Acta Neurochir (Wien). 1990;103(1–2):11–7.
Hülser PJ, Bernhart H, Marbach C, Kornhuber HH. Treatment with an intravenous calcium overload blocker (flunarizine) in acute stroke. Eur Arch Psych Neurol Sci. 1988;237:253–7.
Ishida T, Takanashi Y, Kiwada H. Safe and efficient drug delivery system with liposomes for intrathecal application of an antivasospastic drug. Fasudil Biol Pharm Bull. 2006;29(3):397–402.
Kuba K, Karasawa A, Yamada K, Nito M, Shuto K, Nakamizo N. Effects of (E)-1-(bis (4-fluorophenyl)methyl-4-(3-phenyl-2-propenyl) piperazine dihydrochloride (flunarizine) on cerebral circulation. Nippon Yakurigaku Zasshi. 1982;79(5):383–400.
Megyesi JF, Vollrath B, Cook DA, Findlay JM. In vivo animal models of cerebral vasospasm: a review. Neurosurgery 2000;46:448–60.
Mizoi K, Yoshimoto T, Takahashi A, Fujiwara S, Koshu K, Sugawara T. Prospective study on the prevention of cerebral vasospasm by intrathecal fibrinolytic therapy with tissue type plasminogen activator. J Neurosurg. 1993;78:430–7.
Nag S. Protective effect of flunarizine on blood-brain barrier permeability alterations in acutely hypertensive rats. Stroke 1991;22:1265–9.
Nag S, Young L. Cerebrovascular permeability in acute hypertension: Effect of flunarizine. Acta Neurochir Suppl (Wien). 1990;51:344–5.
Origitano TC, Wascher TM, Reichman OH, Anderson DE. Sustained increased cerebral blood flow with prophylactic hypertensive hypervolemic hemodilution (triple H therapy) after subarachnoid hemorrhage. Neurosurgery 1990;27:729–40.
Scheller D, Tegtmeier F, Urenjak J, Kolb J, Peters U, Bock A. Influence of flunarizine on post-ischemic flow and energy metabolism in the isolated rat brain. Biomed Biochem Acta. 1989;48:161–5.
Silverstein FS, Buchanan K, Hudson CH, Johnston M. Flunarizine limits hypoxia-ischemia induced morphologic injury in immature rat brain. Stroke 1986;17:477–82.
Strong MJ, Wolff AV, Wakayama I, Garruto RM. Aluminum-induced chronic myelopathy in rabbits. Neurotoxicology 1991;12:9–21.
Toyoda M, Takagi T, Takeoka T, Gotoh F. Effect of new vasodilatator (flunarizine) on the cerebral circulation. J Neurol Sci. 1975;25:371–5.
Van Nueten JM, Janssens WJ. Cerebral antivasoconstrictive effects of flunarizine. Acta Otolaryngol Suppl. 1988;460:42–9.
Zumkeller M, Heissler HE, Dietz H. On the effect of calcium antagonists on cerebral blood flow in rats: a comparison of nimodipine and flunarizine. Neurosurg Rev. 1997;20(4):259–68.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2011 Springer-Verlag/Wien
About this paper
Cite this paper
Civelek, E. et al. (2011). Comparison of Intrathecal Flunarizine and Nimodipine Treatments in Cerebral Vasospasm After Experimental Subarachnoid Hemorrhage in Rabbits. In: Feng, H., Mao, Y., Zhang, J.H. (eds) Early Brain Injury or Cerebral Vasospasm. Acta Neurochirurgica Supplements, vol 110/2. Springer, Vienna. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7091-0356-2_13
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7091-0356-2_13
Publisher Name: Springer, Vienna
Print ISBN: 978-3-7091-0355-5
Online ISBN: 978-3-7091-0356-2
eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)