Abstract
Vasoconstrictor agents in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) obtained from patients sustaining subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) was investigated by attempting to reverse the CSF-induced contraction with specific pharmacological antagonists, disulfide-reducing agents and OH scavenging agent, 1,2-Bis (nicotinamido)-propane (AVS).
The CSF-induced contraction of is olated canine basilar artery was not reversed by methysergide, mepyramine, phenoxybenzamine, propanolol and atropine. Therefore, serotonin, histamine, norepinephrine or acetylcholine were eliminated as prime vasoconstrictor agents in CSF.
Dithiothreitol or dithioerythritol (disulfide-reducing agents) inhibited the CSF-induced contraction. This inhibition was achieved under conditions which did not alter KCL-induced contraction of canine basilar artery strips. These findings might suggest that oxyhemoglobin, lipid hydroperoxides or prostaglandins play a role as prime vasoconstrictor agents in the CSF obtained from SAH patients.
1,2-Bis (nicotinamido)-propane showed inhibitory effect against the CSF-induced contraction of isolated canine basilar artery strips.
This drug might be useful in the prevention of cerebral vasospasm following SAH.
