Influence of ulinastatin injection on serum neuron-specific enolase in rats after cardiopul-monary resuscitation

Objective:To investigate the serum concentration of neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and the histopathological changes of cerebral cortex in asphyxia rats with bolus ulinastatin for injection after cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Methods:One hundred and twenty male adult SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups:sham-operation control group, CPR group and Ulinastatin group. Each group was divided into 5 subgroups (n=8) by various intervals (at 0.5,3,6,12,24 h after tracheotomy in control group or after ROSC in CPR group and ulinastatin group). Asphyxiation cardiac arrest and CPR model was used in CPR group and Ulinastatin group,with bolus ulinastatin for Injection 100000 U/kg via arteria carotis within 2 min after ROSC. Anaesthesia,tracheotomy and vascular centesis were performed in rats without asphyxiation in sham-operation group. Samples were taken at each intervals of subgroups. Serum levels of NSE were measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The pathological changes of cortex were observed under light microscope. Results:The serum levels of NSE elevated significantly after ROSC in CPR group and ulinastatin group than those in control group (P0.05 or P0.01). Serum NSE level decreased at 6,12 and 24 h after ROSC in ulinastatin group compared with CPR group (P0.05 or P0.01). There were milder pathological changes in ulinastatin group than those in CPR group. Conclusion:Ulinastatin can alleviate cerebral injury after cardiopulmonary resuscitation by decreasing the level of serum neuron-specific enolase.