Aim: To study the effect of nimodipine (Nim) on infectious brain edema (BE).
Methods: An infectious BE model was induced by injection of Bordetella pertussis suspension (BPS) into right internal carotid artery in rabbits. Eighteen rabbits were randomly divided into 3 groups (n = 6). Group BE: BPS (0.6 mL.kg-1) was given; group NS: normal saline was given as control; group Nim: 10 min after injection of BPS, Nim, 10 micrograms.kg-1, was injected i.v. as a bolus followed by continuous infusion of 0.75 microgram.kg-1.min-1. All the rabbits were kept under observation for 4 h. Evans blue staining was assessed; water, calcium, calmodulin (Cal), and sodium contents were determined in the right brain.
Results: Nim vs BE: water 82.2 +/- 1.0% vs 84.4 +/- 1.2 (P < 0.01); calcium 10.5 +/- 1.3 mmol.kg-1 dry tissue vs 17.5 +/- 1.4 (P < 0.01); Cal 15.9 +/- 1.8 mumol.kg-1 wet tissue vs 24.0 +/- 3.0 (P < 0.01); sodium 173 +/- 7 mmol.kg-1 dry tissue vs 275 +/- 38 (P < 0.05). No significant difference for Evans blue staining between the two groups.
Conclusion: Nim had beneficial effect on the infectious BE.