THE EFFECT OF DEFEROXAMINE ON BRAIN LIPID PEROXIDE LEVELS AND NA-K ATPASE ACTIVITY FOLLOWING EXPERIMENTAL SUBARACHNOID HEMORRHAGE

1. In the present study we have studied the effects of deferoxamine tr eatment on lipid peroxidation and Na-K ATPase activity after experimen tal induction of subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) in guinea pigs. 2. We assessed the extent of lipid peroxidation by measuring the level of ma londialdehyde and Na-K ATPase activity in 3 different groups (sham-ope rated, SAH, SAH + deferoxamine). 3. There was no significant differenc e in lipid peroxide content between sham-operated and haemorrhagic ani mals, but Na-K ATPase activity decreased after SAH. 4. Deferoxamine tr eatment reduced the malondialdehyde content and induced the recovery o f Na-K ATPase activity, exerting a brain protective role against the d etrimental effects of the haemorrhage.