EFFECT OF GSH ON CEREBRAL VASOSPASM IN DOGS

Reduced glutathinone (tau-glutamylcysteinglycine, GSH) is a scavenger for oxygen radicals and plays in important role in protection of cells from ischemia and from the harmful effects of free oxygen radicals. F ree oxygen radicals due to cerebral vasospasm increase in both vasospa sm and proliferative vasculopathy. This experiment was performed to de termine whether GSH plays a role in cerebral vasospasm after subarachn oid hemorrhage by preventing the harmful effects of free oxygen radica ls. In this study, GSH was administered intraarterially and intraciste rnally following vasospasm of the canine basilar artery. Less vasospas m was observed in the group treated with GSH intraarterially following subarachnoid hemorrhage than in the one treated with GSH intracistern ally and in the control group. The arterial wall was investigated ultr astructurally. We evaluated the effect of the anti-oxidating substance through the activity of superoxide dismutase in the arterial wall. We compared the effect of glutathione reductase in the two groups treate d with GSH intraarterially and intracisternally. Arterial degeneration was more prominent in the group in which GSH was used intracisternall y, while the superoxide dismutase levels were low. In contrast, arteri al degeneration was less in the other group in which GSH was used intr aarterially, while the superoxide dismutase levels were high.