The relationship between eNOS and cerebral vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage

Objective To study the expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase(eNOS) in the basilar artery after subarachnoid hemorrhage at various time points and the relationship between eNOS and cerebral vasospasm.Methods Seventy two New Zealand rabbits were randomized into 2 groups,control group(n=12) and SAH group(n=60).Then the latter group was randomly divided into 5 subgroups according to the time points:1d,3d,5d,7d and 10d(12 per group).Models of SAH were successfully induced via injecting autologous blood into the cisterna magna twice.The perfusion-fixation was performed for sacrifice of the rabbits in different time after the second blood injection in vivo.The lumen areas of the basilar artery were measured to assess vasospasm in all groups.The expression of eNOS protein in basilar artery was detected by Western-blotting.Results The SAH models that were established by injecting autologous blood into the cisterna magna twice were successful and basilar arteries demonstrated vasospasm to varying degrees.Western blotting indicated that the expression of eNOS protein in the control group was higher.In the SAH groups,it decreased on 1d,reached the lowest on 5d and increased in the later days.Conclusion There is a certain consistency between the expression changes of eNOS and CVS after SAH.The decrease of eNOS may play a role in the development of cerebral vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage.