Effects of ulinastatin on changes of cerebral edema and the ultrastructure of brain after cardiopulmonary resuscitation in rats

Objective:To study the effect of ulinastatin on changes of cerebral edema and the ultrastructure of brain at different time points after early cardiopulmonary resuscitation(CPR) in rats.Methods: The animal model of cardiac arrest(CA) was established.One handred and twenty male Sprague Dawley(SD) rats were randomly divided into 15 groups(n=8,in each) : control group and CPR group and drug group,which were further divided into 5 subgroups respectively on the base of time.The contents of Evens blue(EB) and brain water in cerebral tissue were assayed,and the ultrastructure of brain was observed.Results: The brain edema was obvious at 1/2 h after CPR in CPR group(P0.05),and was still elevated at 9 h(P0.05).EB content was higher at 6 h and 9 h than that in normal control group and control group(P0.05).In animals treated with ulinastatin,brain water content was increased(P0.05) at 1/2 h to 3 h after CPR,and was comeback after 6 h.EB content didn't change significantly.The observation of the ultrastructure in brain tissue showed that the injury was relieved obviously in the ulinastatin group than that in the CPR group.Conclusion: CPR results primarily in cytotoxic edema,subsequently with the increased permeability of blood-brain barrier,vasogenic edema plays a critical role in formation of brain edema.Ulinastatin can alleviate the cerebral edema and protect from cerebral damnification after early CPR in rats.