Compression-induced brain edema in rats: effect of dietary vitamin E on membrane damage in the brain

Vasogenic edema was produced by focal epidural brain compression followed by sudden decompression in rats raised on diets that varied in content of vitamin E. Cerebral content of total fatty acids and vitamin E was assayed at 24 hours postdecompression after a 24-hour period of compression. Levels of all individual fatty acids in the previously compressed brain region were less by 19 to 22% in the vitamin E-deficient group than in sham-operated controls (p less than 0.05); by 4 to 13% in the vitamin E-normal group; and by 0 to 7% in the vitamin E-supplemented group. Brain levels of vitamin E were not altered by compression in any group. By physicochemical interaction with phospholipids, vitamin E may serve to stabilize membranes after this type of brain injury.