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Updated: Jun 24, 2026
07:15
Intranasal Administration of CNS Therapeutics to Awake Mice
Published on: April 8, 2013
Hypertonic saline more efficacious than mannitol in lethal intracranial hypertension model
Joacil Carlos da Silva1, Frederico de Melo Tavares de Lima, Marcelo Moraes Valença
1Department of Neurosurgery, Hospital da Restauração, Agamenon Magalhães, SN, Recife, Pernambuco 51021-110, Brazil. joacil_carlos@hotmail.com
Neurological Research
|March 25, 2009
Summary
Hypertonic saline (HS) effectively reduced intracranial pressure (ICP) and improved cerebral perfusion pressure compared to mannitol in a rabbit model. This suggests HS may be a superior treatment for elevated ICP.
Area of Science:
- Neurosurgery
- Critical Care Medicine
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Elevated intracranial pressure (ICP) and brain edema pose significant challenges in neurosurgery.
- Current treatments include blood-brain barrier stabilization, brain water depletion, and surgical decompression.
- Mannitol is a primary hyperosmolar therapy, but hypertonic saline (HS) is an emerging alternative.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the efficacy of hypertonic saline (HS) and mannitol in managing experimental elevated ICP.
- To evaluate the effects of HS and mannitol on ICP, mean arterial pressure (MAP), and cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP).
Main Methods:
- An experimental model of elevated ICP (50 mmHg) was created in rabbits using an intracranial balloon.
- Animals were divided into control, HS (10% NaCl), and mannitol (20%) groups, receiving iso-osmolar doses intravenously.
- ICP, MAP, and CPP were continuously monitored for 90 minutes post-treatment.
Main Results:
- The control group exhibited significantly lower survival rates compared to HS and mannitol groups (p=0.0002).
- The 10% NaCl group demonstrated significantly lower ICP (p=0.0116) and higher MAP (p<0.0001) and CPP (p<0.0001) compared to the mannitol group.
- HS showed superior efficacy in improving hemodynamic parameters and reducing ICP.
Conclusions:
- 10% NaCl (HS) demonstrated higher efficacy than 20% mannitol in this rabbit model of elevated ICP.
- Further clinical studies are warranted to investigate iso-osmolar doses of HS and mannitol for specific intracranial hypertension etiologies.
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