Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 2, 2026
A Low Mortality Rat Model to Assess Delayed Cerebral Vasospasm After Experimental Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
Published on: January 17, 2013
Genetic elimination of Nrf2 aggravates secondary complications except for vasospasm after experimental subarachnoid
Tao Li1, Handong Wang2, Yu Ding3
1Department of Neurosurgery, Jinling Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University School of Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210089, PR China; Department of Neurosurgery, Jinling Hospital, Neurosurgical Institution of People's Liberation Army of China, PR China.
Abstract:
Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a key endogenous protective regulator in the body. This study aimed to explore the role of Nrf2 in subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH)-induced secondary complications. Wild type (WT) and Nrf2 knockout (KO) mice were subjected to experimental SAH by injecting fresh autologous blood into pre-chiasmatic cistern. The absence of Nrf2 function in mice resulted in exacerbated brain injury with increased brain edema, blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption, neural apoptosis, and severe neurological deficits at 24h after SAH. Moreover, cerebral vasospasm was severe at 24h after SAH, but not significantly different between WT and Nrf2 KO mice after SAH. Meanwhile, Molondialdehyde (MDA) was increased and GSH/GSSG ratio was decreased in Nrf2 KO mice after SAH. Furthermore, higher expression of TNF-α and IL-1β was also found after SAH in Nrf2 KO mice. In conclusion, our results revealed that Nrf2 plays an important role in attenuating SAH-induced secondary complications by regulating excessive oxidative stress and inflammatory response.
