Aim: The aim of this study is to determine the effects of a strong dithiol antioxidant, alpha lipoic acid (ALA) on cerebral vasospasm following subarachnoid hemorrhage in a rabbit model.
Material and methods: Twenty-one New Zealand white rabbits were assigned to one of three groups: group 1 (control), group 2 (SAH only), group 3 (SAH+ALA). ALA was administered (100 mg/kg/day, single dose, intraperitoneally). The rabbits were sacrificed 72 hours after SAH. The basilar artery lumen areas, arterial wall thickness and endothelial apoptosis in a cross section of basilar artery were measured in all groups. The tissue MDA, SOD, GSH-Px levels were also determined.
Results: The elevated tissue MDA levels after SAH were significantly reduced by ALA treatment. The reduced tissue SOD and GSH-Px levels after SAH were also elevated by ALA treatment. In the treatment group the average wall thickness and the mean percentages of apoptotic cells (apoptotic index) were reduced and the average cross-sectional areas of the basilar artery were increased statistically significantly.
Conclusion: ALA treatment attenuates the severity of cerebral vasospasm by its strong antioxidant, antivasospastic and antiapoptotic properties. ALA may potentially serve as agents in the prevention of cerebral vasospasm after SAH.