Investigate the effect of carnitine on cerebral vasospasm in an experimental model of subarachnoid hemorrhage

Vasospasm after subaracnoid hemorrhage has not been elucidated absolutely in terms of etiology and consequences. There are a lot of theories about the formation of vasospasm. One of the most widely accepted theory is that, there is a balance with the NO- a main vasodilator which is produced from vascular endothelium and ET1 - a main vasocontrictor originating also from vascular endothelium. Vasospasm develops after disruption of this balance in favor of ET1. Oxyhemoglobin with Fe++ enhances lipid peroxidation and catalyzes the formation of oxygen free radicals. Thisprocess results in endothelial damage and leads to increased intracellular Ca+2 which results in vasoconstriction. NO is a main activator of guanilat cyclase (GC) which produces cGMP and reduces intracellular calcium causing vasodilatation. We investigated the effect of Carnitine (ALCAR) on vasospasm which is an antioxidant. In our study, 35 adult male Wistar rats ranging from 235-350 g were used. Rats were divided into five groups, (n = 7). Group 1 Control Group, Group 2 SAH + saline (carrier solution), Group 3 SAH + ALCAR 50 mg \ kg ip, Group 4 SAH + ALCAR 100 mg \ kg ip and Group 5 pure as SAH group. SAH was created by giving autologous arterial blood to cisterna magna in group 2, 3, 4 and 5. On group 2,3 and 4 the therapotic agent was dministered intraperitoneally in 0 - 12 - 24 - 36 - 48 - 60 and 72 hours. Then all the animals were capitated after perfusion and fixation. A Large craniectomy was performed and brain, cerebellum, and brainstem were -removed globally. Then the photographs of basilar arteries were then with 40X magnification after sections were obtained. İn these sections, basilar artery lumen cross-sectional area, basiler artery areas and wall thickness were measured. The obtained values, were examined with Kruskal-Wallis test. Basilar artery lumen crosssectional area, was found significantly higher in SAH created and treated groups of ALCAR 50 mg \ kg and ALCAR 100 mg \ kg, than pure SAH and SAH + SF groups (p=0.0408). Basilar artery wall thickness was significantly increased in all groups except the control group (p < 0,05). Carnitine in the light of all these findings, is thought to be effective against vasospasm in an experimental SAH model.