The effects of niguldipine pretreatment on cerebral vasospasm after subarachnoid haemorrhage in rabbits

Abstract

Several different mechanisms contribute to the pathogenesis of cerebral vasospasm after subarachnoid haemorrhage. Whatever these mechanisms are, the vessel contraction is ultimately induced by an increase of free intracellular Ca2+ in the arterial wall. In this study, we investigated the effect on cerebral blood flow of a new dihydropyridine derivative Ca-channel blocker Niguldipine, in a rabbit experimental cerebral vasospasm model. The cerebral blood flow was significantly decreased in the saline treatment group when compared with control group. Niguldipine pretreatment caused a significant increase in cerebral blood flow. This effect should be investigated further.