Neuroprotective effects of hirudotherapy in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury: an experimental rat model

This study evaluated the in vivo effects of hirudotherapy (medicinal leech therapy) on microcirculation and inflammation following global ischemia‑induced cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) in rats. Rats were divided into three groups of eight (control, I/R, and hirudotherapy) for this study. Global ischemia was created in the I/R and treatment groups by occluding both common carotid arteries. According to the I/R procedure, two Hirudo verbana leeches were applied bilaterally to the mastoid regions. Serum and tissue samples were analyzed for biochemical parameters including superoxide dismutase (SOD), interleukin 6 (IL‑6), nitric oxide (NO), calcitonin gene‑related peptide (CGRP), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT), endothelin‑1, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF‑α), ischemia modified albumin (IMA), and hypoxia‑inducible factor‑1 alpha (HIF‑1α). Histopathological methods were used to examine edema, degeneration, necrosis, and hemorrhagic changes in brain tissue samples. The I/R group showed significantly increased tissue TNF‑α levels compared to controls. Tissue IMA and HIF‑1α levels were significantly higher in the treatment group. Treatment significantly reduced degeneration, necrosis, edema, and hemorrhage in brain tissues, as shown by histopathology. Histopathological analysis shows significantly less tissue damage in the hirudotherapy group compared to the I/R group, suggesting that hirudotherapy reduces brain damage after cerebral ischemia and reperfusion.