Effect of General Hypothermia on the Embolic Model of Stroke in the Male Rat

Hypothermia has neuroprotective effects in permanent or transient models of cerebral artery occlusion. In the current study، neuroprotective effect of general hypothermia in the embolic model of stroke، in which no study has been conducted to date.

In this experimental study، twenty-four male Wistar rats (250 to 350 g) were divided into three groups as following: sham، Control and hypothermia. Stroke was induced by clot injection into the right middle cerebral artery (MCA). General hypothermia was induced at 6 h after stroke. Neurological deficits were measured at 24 and 48 h after ischemia. Infarction volume and brain edema were determined at the end of study.

General hypothermia significantly decreased infarct volume (P<0. 001) and neurological deficits (P<0. 001). No significant difference was observed between hypothermia and control group in brain edema.

According to the findings of the present study، general hypothermia at six h after ischemia shows neuroprotection in the embolic model of stroke.