Changes of Noradrenaline in Brain Homogenate of Rats with Brain Injury Secondary to Intracerebral Hemorrhage: A Study of the Mechanism

OBJECTIVE To observe the changes of noradrenaline (NE) content dynamically in the homogenate of rat brain tissues during experimental intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), so as to understand the role of NE in secondary brain injury. METHODS Seventy Wistar rats were randomly assigned into sham operation group and ICH group, each group subdivided into different time phase points as pre-operation, 0.5, 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h post-operation groups (n=5). ICH model was established by injection of collagenase and heparin into rat caudate nucleus, and the changes of NE content in the peripheral tissues of the hematoma, hypothalamus and brainstem were observed respectively at following time points as before operation and 0.5, 6, 12, 48 and 72 h after the operation. NE was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS NE activities in the peripheral tissues of the hematoma, hypothalamus and brainstem increased synchronously 0.5 h after operation, peaked at 24 h, and then began to decline at 48 h. At the same time, the neurobehavioral score varied synchronously together with NE. CONCLUSION NE is involved in the pathogenesis of secondary damage of the brain during ICH.