The effect of cortical spreading depression on cerebral blood flow and apoptosis in rats after subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Objective To clarify the effect of cortical spreading depression (CSD) on cortical cerebral blood flow and apoptosis following subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) in rats. Methods SAH was induced in male Wistar rats by autologous blood injection into the cisterna magna and CSD was induced in rats with KCl. The cortical blood flow was measured by laser Doppler flowmeter and apoptosis were detected by TUNEL staining. Results In SAH groups the cortical cerebral blood flow was significantly reduced and cortical cell apoptosis was increased compared with those in blank and normal saline groups. After CSD, the cortical cerebral blood flow and apoptosis in SAH groups were more obvious than in blank and normal saline groups. Conclusion CSD can reduce cortical cerebral blood flow and aggravate apoptosis after SAH. It may be one of the mechanisms of delayed ischemic neurologic deficit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]