The effects of dexmedetomidine on trauma-induced secondary injury in rat brain

ABSTRACT

Background

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of dexmedetomidine (Dex), a sedative drug with little or no depressant effect on respiratory centers, on secondary injury in rat brain tissue by means of the Na+/K+ ATPase enzyme, which maintains the cell membrane ion gradient; malondialdehyde, an indicator of membrane lipid peroxidation; glutathione, an indicator of antioxidant capacity; and histopathological analyses.

Methods

Eighteen rats were randomized into three groups: the trauma group received anesthesia, followed by head trauma with a Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Apparatus; the Trauma+Dex group received an additional treatment of 100 µg/kg intraperitoneal dexmedetomidine daily for three days; the Control group received anesthesia only.

Results

The highest MDA levels compared to the Control group were found in the Trauma group. Mean levels in the Trauma+Dex group were lower, albeit still significantly high compared to the Control group. Glutathione levels were similar in all groups. Na/K-ATPase levels were significantly lower in the Trauma group compared to both the Control group and the Trauma+Dex group. Histopathologic findings of tissue degeneration including edema, vascular congestion and neuronal injury, and cleaved caspase-3 levels were lower in the Trauma+Dex group compared with the Trauma group.

Conclusions

Dexmedetomidine administered during the early stage of traumatic brain injury may inhibit caspase-3 cleavageHowever, the mechanism does not seem to be related to the improvement of MDA or GSH levels.

KEYWORDS:

• Apoptosis
• cleaved caspase-3
• dexmedetomidine
• oxidative stress
• traumatic brain injury

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Author contributions

AS and BE had full access to all of the data in the study and take responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis. LT, TM and HAU were involved in the concept and design of the manuscript. All authors acquired, interpreted, and designed the manuscript. SB and AO drafted the manuscript. TM revised the manuscript for important intellectual and linguistic content. TM, LT, and HAU provided administrative, technical, and supervised data.

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/01616412.2023.2257446

Data availability statement

All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this article. Further inquiries can be directed to the corresponding author.

Ethical approval

The study was approved by University Animal Ethical Committee (ID: 2017/1).

This research was approved by the Animal Research Ethics Committee of the University (2017–1). Procedures involving animals and their care were carried out in conformity with international laws and policies (Guide for Care and Use of Laboratory Animals published by the US National Institutes of Health (NIH Publication No. 85–23, revised 2011)).

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.