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The effect of N-acetylcysteine on posttraumatic changes after controlled cortical impact in rats

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Abstract

Objective

The antioxidant potential N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) and its improvement of posttraumatic mitrochondrial dysfunction have been reported. This study investigated the effect of NAC on posttraumatic changes after controlled cortical Impact (CCI) injury.

Design and setting

Prospective randomized controlled animal study.

Methods

A moderate left focal cortical contusion was induced using CCI. Either NAC (163 mg/kg bw) or physiological saline was administered intraperitoneally immediately and 2 and 4 h after trauma. Blood gases, temperature, mean arterial blood pressure (MABP), and intracranial pressure (ICP) were monitored. Twenty-four hours after trauma brains were removed and either posttraumatic edema was quantified gravimetrically (n=24], or contusion volume was determined morphometrically using slices staining and computerized image analysis (n=24]. Laser Doppler flowmetry was used to assess pericontusional cortical perfusion before trauma, 30 min and 4 and 24 h after trauma (n=14].

Measurements and results

Physiological parameters remained within normal limits. ICP measurements and water content in traumatized hemispheres did not differ between the groups. Relative contusion volume of the left hemisphere was slightly but nonsignificantly diminished in NAC-treated animals (4.7±0.4% vs. 5.9±0.5% in controls). In both groups pericontusional perfusion was significantly reduced at 4 h followed by a state of hyperperfusion at 24 h with no differences between the groups.

Conclusions

Despite previously reported neuroprotective abilities of NAC, no positive effect on posttraumatic perfusion, brain edema formation, or contusion volume after focal brain injury was observed in this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, Charité, Virchow Medical Center, Humboldt University, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353, Berlin, Germany

    Ulrich-Wilhelm Thomale, Martin Griebenow & Stefan-Nikolaus Kroppenstedt

  2. Department of Neurosurgery, Ruprecht-Karl University, Heidelberg, Germany

    Andreas W. Unterberg

  3. Division of Surgical Intensive Care Medicine, Department of Surgery, University Hospital, Zürich, Switzerland

    John F. Stover

Authors
  1. Ulrich-Wilhelm Thomale
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  2. Martin Griebenow
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  3. Stefan-Nikolaus Kroppenstedt
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  4. Andreas W. Unterberg
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  5. John F. Stover
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ulrich-Wilhelm Thomale.

Additional information

U.-W. Thomale and M. Griebenow contributed equally to this study

This work was supported in part by research grants from Charité Hospital, Humboldt University, Berlin (89531154 to U.W.T.) and Research Award 2001 of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Neurotraumatologie und Klinische Neuropsychologie (to J.F.S.)

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Thomale, UW., Griebenow, M., Kroppenstedt, SN. et al. The effect of N-acetylcysteine on posttraumatic changes after controlled cortical impact in rats. Intensive Care Med 32, 149–155 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00134-005-2845-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00134-005-2845-4

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