Effect of ginkgo biloba on brain volume after carotid artery occlusion in rats

Gingko Biloba (GB) is a temporary antioxidant, which can be used for correcting the damages formed by decreased blood stream and occurred free oxygen radicals as a result of GB hypoxia that has the qualification of strong free radical scavenger due to flavanoids found its content. Lots of studies carried out related to GB, which is commonly used in experimental and clinical studies based on its qualifications in recent years. However, no sufficient study, which makes researches about the possible effects of GB on brain ischemia, is found. Because of this reason, a study is started to make research about the possible effects of GB in brain volume related to cerebral ischemia occurred by stopping the carotid artery blood stream.In total 24 adult rats are used in the study. The rates are divided in 4 groups, each consisting of 6 rats. No operation is applied to the first group. Ischemia is applied by clamping right and left arteria carotid communis to second and third group rates for 30 minutes. Since the day ischemia is applied to the second group rats, a (100mg/kg)drop (Tebokan Fort Damla, Abdi İbrahim İlaç Sanayi ve Tic A.Ş. Istanbul, Turkey) involves dry extract of GB leaves given to them orally for 14 days everyday at the same time. Related to forth group rates, only surgical stress is applied. Animals are perfused on 14th day and their brain tissues are removed. Brains are passed through routine histological tissue proceeding and they are absorbed in paraffine blocks. After that, cross sections from samples at the rate of 1/10 and in 30 micron thickness are painted with Cresyl fast violet and volume calculation is performed.According to the study result, it is observed that there is no significant differences in statistic with respect to brain volume (p<0,05). The fact that there is no differences between 30 minutes of ischemia and surgical stress groups and between control groups with respect to volume, shows that possible volume increase that can be occurred as a result of ischemia result, disappears within 14 days.Key Words: Brain, Rat, Ischemia, Ginkgo Biloba, Stereology