Edaravone reduces astrogliosis and apoptosis in young rats with kaolin-induced hydrocephalus

Purpose: We investigated the possible neuroprotective effects of the free radical scavenger edaravone in experimental hydrocephalus.

Methods: Seven-day-old Wistar rats were divided into three groups: control group (C), untreated hydrocephalic (H), and hydrocephalic treated with edaravone (EH). The H and EH groups were subjected to hydrocephalus induction by 20% kaolin intracisternal injection. The edaravone (20 mg/kg) was administered daily for 14 days from the induction of hydrocephalus. All Animals were daily weighed and submitted to behavioral test and assessment by magnetic resonance imaging. After 14 days, the Animals were sacrificed and the brain was removed for histological, immunohistochemical, and biochemical studies.

Results: The gain weight was similar between groups from the ninth post-induction day. The open field test performance of EH group was better (p < 0.05) as compared to untreated hydrocephalic Animals. Hydrocephalic Animals (H and EH) showed ventricular ratio values were higher (p < 0.05), whereas magnetization transfer values were lower (p < 0.05), as compared to control Animals. Astrocyte activity (glial fibrillary acidic protein) and apoptotic cells (Caspase-3) of EH group were decreased on the corpus callosum (p > 0.01), germinal matrix (p > 0.05), and cerebral cortex (p > 0.05), as compared to H group.

Conclusions: We have demonstrated that administration of edaravone for 14 consecutive days after induction of hydrocephalus reduced astrocyte activity and that it has some beneficial effects over apoptotic cell death.