Inhibition of bradykinin B2 receptors before, not after onset of experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage prevents brain edema formation and improves functional outcome.

OBJECTIVE

Brain edema following subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is a result of impairment of cerebral autoregulation and breakdown of the blood-brain barrier. We investigated the role of bradykinin B2 receptors (BrdB2Rs) on brain edema formation after SAH.

DESIGN

In vivo and ex vivo animal study.

SETTING

University research laboratory.

SUBJECTS

Male Sprague-Dawley rats.

INTERVENTIONS AND MEASUREMENTS

Rats were subjected to an endovascular perforation of the circle of Willis and were randomly assigned to a) vehicle, b) immediate treatment (30 minutes before and 300 minutes post-SAH) or c) delayed treatment (30 and 300 minutes post-SAH) with the B2 receptor antagonist Anatibant (LF 16-0687 Ms), and d) sham surgery. BrdB2R, kininogen (Kng1), and kallikrein mRNA expression was determined 6 hours after SAH or sham surgery.

MAIN RESULTS

SAH resulted in a significant increase in brain water content (vehicle: 80.3% +/- 1.2% vs. sham: 79.1% +/- 0.2%, p < 0.01) after 24 hours. Blockade of BrdB2Rs before SAH significantly prevented brain edema formation (79.0% +/- 0.3%, p < 0.05) and significantly improved neurologic recovery. BrdB2Rs and Kng1 mRNA were significantly increased 6 hours post-SAH (BrdB2R: 216%; Kng1: 2729%; p < 0.02 vs. sham). Delayed treatment regimen failed to reduce brain water content and neurologic impairment.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results indicate that BrdB2Rs play a key role in the initial phase after SAH contributing to brain edema formation. Inhibition of B2 receptors in a posttreatment regimen did not influence brain edema formation. Delayed pathophysiologic processes after SAH seem to be independent of B2 receptors.