Edaravone is widely used for treating ischemic stroke, but it is not still confirmed in intracerebral hemorrhage ( ICH) as an ideal medication targeting the brain parenchyma. We aimed to investigate the neuroprotective effects of stereotactic administration of edaravone ( SI) into the brain parenchyma.
Intracerebral hemorrhage rat models were established by infusion of collagenase into the caudate nucleus. Neural functional recovery was assessed using modified neurological severity scores ( mNSS). A comparative study of therapeutic effects between SI and intraperitoneal injection of edaravone ( IP) involved in cerebral edema, blood–brain barrier ( BBB) permeability, hematoma absorption, inflammatory response and neuronal apoptosis.
Compared with IP, the mNSS was significantly ( P < 0.05) improved by SI; cerebral edema and BBB permeability were dramatically ameliorated ( P < 0.05); IL‐4 and IL‐10 levels increased, but IL‐1β and TNF‐α levels significantly decreased; neuron apoptosis decreased markedly ( P < 0.05); and caspase‐3 and Bax expression significantly dropped, but Bcl‐2 increased in SI group ( P < 0.05).