The effect of riluzole and mannitol on cerebral oedema after cryogenic injury in the mouse

A cryogenic lesion was produced under halothane anaesthesia in the mouse by placing a cotton swab soaked in liquid nitrogen onto the surface of the cr anium. This provoked an oedematous lesion which developed within the hour a fter the insult and evolved over the following week. Treatment with mannito l at 3 g/kg i.v. caused a significant 22% reduction in oedema 1 h later, wh en administered immediately after lesion, but not when administered 23-h po st lesion. Likewise riluzole (16 mg/kg, i.v.) significantly reduced oedema by 17% when administered immediately after lesion, or 13% (P < 0.05) when a dministered 23 h after lesion. Repeated doses (2 x 16 mg/kg, i.p.) of riluz ole were also able to reduce oedema significantly (24%, P < 0.05) at 24 h p ost lesion. Riluzole, in four repeated doses of 8 mg/kg i.p. was also able to reduce lesion surface size by 16% (P < 0.05) 48 h after lesion. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.