ABSTRACT

Objectives:

To determine the effects of volume replacement and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) on brain tissue lactate and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in a rat model of combined hemorrhagic shock and traumatic brain injury.

Materials and Methods:

Rats were assigned to one of five groups: control (no treatment, n=8), sham (n=8), and three treatment groups (n=7 in each), in which Marmarou’s method of traumatic brain injury and hemorrhagic shock was applied. Volume replacement was administered to maintain a mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) >60 mmHg in the third group and >80 mmHg in the fourth and fifth groups. In addition, DMSO was given to the fifth group. Brain tissue lactic acidosis and lipid peroxidation were evaluated by measuring the levels of lactate and MDA in brain tissue samples.

Results:

MDA levels were significantly higher than control in the second, third and fourth groups (P<0.05). No elevation was seen in the fifth compared to the sham group. Tissue lactate levels increased markedly in the sham and group 3 (MAP >60 mmHg) rats compared to the control group (P<0.05), but no statistically significant increase was found in groups 4 and 5 (MAP > 80 mmHg).

Conclusion:

DMSO and volume replacement therapy to achieve a higher MAP is effective in decreasing markers of lactic acidosis and lipid peroxidation during the acute phase of a rat model of combined hemorrhagic shock and head trauma