Protective Effect of Resveratrol Against Intracranial Aneurysm Rupture in Mice

Abstract

Resveratrol is a polyphenol and potent antioxidant that has anti-inflammatory effects in conditions such as atherosclerosis, aortic aneurysm, and inflammatory bowel disease. In this study, we investigated whether resveratrol exerts anti-inflammatory effects and protects against intracranial aneurysm formation and rupture in male mice. Intracranial aneurysms were induced in mice using a combination of elastase injection into the cerebrospinal fluid and deoxycorticosterone acetate-salt (DOCA-salt)-induced hypertension. Male mice were divided into two groups: a resveratrol diet group and a normal diet group. The dietary intervention lasted for 6 weeks, starting 3 weeks prior to elastase injection. The overall incidence of aneurysms did not differ significantly between the normal diet and resveratrol diet groups (71% vs. 59%, p = 0.497). However, resveratrol significantly reduced the rate of aneurysmal rupture compared with that in the normal diet group (88% vs. 40%, p = 0.026). Furthermore, resveratrol supplementation increased the mRNA levels of Sirtuin 1 (Sirt1) and decreased the mRNA levels of nuclear factor kappa B subunit 1 (Nfkb1) and Tumor necrosis factor (Tnf). Our findings demonstrate that resveratrol reduces intracranial aneurysm rupture in a mouse model, indicating its therapeutic potential in this condition.