Ancrod reduces intracerebral hemorrhage quantified in vivo by magnetic resonance imaging in rats

• Published in: Journal of stroke and cerebrovascular diseases 1998-01, Vol.7 (1), p.10-16
• Main Authors: Elger, Bernd, Hornberger, Wilfried, Schwarz, Margarete, Seega, Jürgen, Zahn, Wolfgang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ancrod; Fibrinogen; Intracerebral hemorrhage; Intracranial bleeding; Magnetic resonance imaging; Rats
• ISSN: 1052-3057; 1532-8511
• DOI: 10.1016/S1052-3057(98)80016-5

Promising results of experimental and clinical stroke studies suggest that ancrod may provide an efficient therapy of brain ischemia. Because ancrod has been shown to produce rapid defibrinogenation, we investigated the effects of this agent in a rat model of intracranial bleeding using noninvasive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Intracranial bleeding was induced in anesthetised rats by microinfusion of collagenase into the right striatum. Ancrod was intravenously infused for a period of 30 minutes starting 30 minutes after intrastriatal collagenase infusion. The dosages of ancrod were 0.33 IU · kg−1 · min−1 in one group and 1 IU · kg−1 · min−1 in another (total dosages were 10 and 30 IU · kg−1, respectively). Control animals received equal amounts of vehicle solution (0.9% NaCl) only. The volume of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) was quantified in vivo by T1-weighted spin-echo MRI in eight consecutive coronal brain planes 24 hours after collagenase infusion. Plasma fibrinogen was dose-dependently diminished immediately after infusio of ancrod at dosages of 0.33 or 1 IU · kg−1 · min−1. Total volume of ICH was significantly (P