Protective Effects of Alpha-Lipoic Acid on Cerebral Vasospasm in Rats

Objective: This study is an examination of the protective effects of alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) on cerebral vasospasm in an experimental rat model with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) using biochemical, pathological, and histomorphometric analyses. Methods: A total of 28 albino Wistar rats were randomly categorized into 4 groups (n=7 each): Group (G)1, no experimental intervention; G2, subjected to SAH; G3, subjected to SAH and given physiological saline (100 mg/kg); and G4, subjected to SAH and treated with ALA (100mg/kg). Results: No statistically significant decrease in malondialdehyde level, the end product of lipid peroxidation, was observed among the drug groups (G3 and G4). Furthermore, there was no statistical increase in paraoxonase level, an endogenous antioxidant enzyme, among the drug groups (G3 and G4). Thin sections of the basilar artery were morphologically examined, and severe luminal narrowing and vessel wall thickening were observed in the SAH groups (G2 and G3). In the ALA group (G4), vessel wall thickness measurements revealed no statistically significant difference compared with the other SAH groups (G2 and G3); however, G4 rats were found to have larger luminal diameters than those in G3. Conclusion: These findings suggest that ALA had no effect on malondialdehyde-associated lipid peroxidation and paraoxonase activity; however, it had a favorable effect on basilar artery luminal diameter in the treatment of cerebral vasospasm following SAH.