[Effect of ulinastatin on postischemic brain edema in cats]

The effect of ulinastatin on postischemic brain edema was investigated in adult mongrel cats. Focal brain ischemia was produced by occlusion of the left middle cerebral artery (MCA) through the transorbital approach. Following two hours of occlusion, the brain was reperfused for two hours. In all seven animals of the ulinastatin-treated group, ulinastatin was administered intravenously at a dose of 50000 U/kg before and after occlusion. In the control group, six animals were given only vehicle. Measurements of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) were performed before MCA occlusion by the hydrogen clearance method, and then repeated every 30 minutes during and after occlusion. Following two-hour reperfusion, the animals were sacrificed by intravenous KCl injection. Specific gravity of the cortex, where rCBF was measured, was determined by microgravimetric method. In the analysis of specific gravity of the cortex, in which mean rCBF during ischemia was above 15ml/100g/min, no significant difference was found between the ulinastatin-treated and control groups. In the specimen with mean rCBF below 15ml/100g/min during ischemia, cortical specific gravity was reduced remarkably in the control group, while not decreased in the ulinastatin-treated group. The difference was statistically significant between two groups (p less than 0.001). These findings suggest antiedema effect of ulinastatin.