dl-3-n-butylphthalide improves regional cerebral blood flow after experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage in rats

AIM: To investigate the effect of dl-3-n-butyl-phthalide (dl-NBP) on experi mental subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) in rats. METHODS: SAH was induced by i njection of autologous artery blood 0.35 mL into lateral ventricle. Regiona l cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in caudate nucleus was determined by hydrogen clearance method. RESULTS: A rapid and marked decrease in rCBF in caudate n ucleus was observed 15 min after SAH and the rCBF remained at low level (ab out 50 % pre-SAM value) within 180 min. dl-NBP (50, 100 mg . kg(-1), ig) in creased rCBF 30 - 180 min after the onset of SAH without significant effect on mean artery blood pressure. dl-NBP 100 mg kg-l increased rCBF in caudat e nucleus by 26 % at 15 min and by 36 % at 180 min respectively after SAH. d-NBP but not l-NBP (10 mg . kg(-1), ip) increased rCBF. CONCLUSION: dl-NBP improves rCBF in caudate nucleus of rats subjected to SAM.