Abstract: Objective To observe the effects of repeated dosing of 6% hydroxyethyl starch (130/0.4) or 7.5% sodium chloride on brain edema after experimental intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) in rats. Methods 167 male SD rats were divided into four groups randomly: Sham operation group (S, n=20), ICH control group (M, n=38), 7.5% sodium chloride group (N, n=55) and 6% hydroxyethyl starch group (H, n=54). The model of the ICH was established with stereotactically infusing 50 μl of the autologous femoral artery blood into the right caudate nucleus. group N and group H received 7.5% sodium chloride 5 ml/kg and 6% hydroxyethyl starch 30 ml/kg at 2 h, 24 h, 48 h and 72 h after operation respectively. The tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in the tissue around the hemorrhage were measured at different time point. Results The IL-6 in group N was significantly more than that in group M at 24 h and 72 h after infusion (P<0.05), and the TNF-α in group H was less than that in group M at 24 h and 48 h after infusion (P<0.05). The SOD in group M decreased to the bottom at 48 h and 72h after ICH. SOD in group N and group H at 24 h, 48 h and 72 h after infusion was both significant more than that in group M (P<0.05). MDA in group H at 72 h after infusion was less than that in group M (P<0.05). Conclusion Repeated infusion of 6% hydroxyethyl starch (130/0.4) or 7.5% sodium chloride can decrease inflammatory response of brain tissue after ICH, which may protect brain from oxidative damage.

Key words: hydroxyethyl starch, saline solution, hypertonic, cerebral hemorrhage, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA)