Study on role of thrombin in brain damage after intracerebral hemorrhage in rats

Objective To investigate the changes of the brain cell apoptosis and brain edema after intracerebral infusion of the whole blood and 5、U thrombin,and the effect of hirudin on the brain damage.Methods The adult rats were divided into five groups,and intracerebrally given with thrombin solution autologous blood,thrombin solution plus hirudin solution and autologous blood plus hirudin solution or normal saline(NS) respectively.After 6,24,72 hours and 7 days jection,the brains were taken out to detect the cell apoptosis(Tunel method)and the water content of brains.Results The apoptosic cells and brain water contents increased at 6、h after intracerebral hemorrhage(ICH),peaked at 72、h and decreased on 7、d after ICH,whereas those were increased at 6、h,peaked at 24、h and decreased at 72、h after intracerebral infusion of thrombin.Compared with NS group,the number of apoptosic cells at 6、h after ICH,did not markedly increase(P0.05).However,apoptosic cells and brain water contents were markedly inhibited by conjecion of hirudin and blood/thrombin(P0.05).Conclusion Thrombin possibly induced the brain edema which peaked at 72、h after ICH by gradually realeased from the clot.