Rhynchophylline attenuates cerebral vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage in rats

Objective To investigate the effects of rhynchophylline( Rhy) on alleviating cerebral vasospasm( CVS) after subarachnoid hemorrhage( SAH). Methods SAH model was established in adult male SD rats by using endovascular perforation method. The Rhy was immediately applied by intraperitoneal injection after SAH. At 24 hours after SAH,the diameter and vessel wall thickness of basilar artery( BA) were measured by magnetic resonance imaging( MRI)and / or HE staining. The levels of phosphorylated p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase( p-p38MAPK),p-p53 and cleavedCaspase-3 in BA were determined by Western blotting and immunofluorescence. Results After Rhy treatment,the diameter of BA was significantly increased and the thickness of vessel wall was markedly decreased( P 0. 05),Additionally,the levels of p-p38 MAPK,p-p53 and cleaved-Caspase-3 in BA were significantly reduced by Rhy treatment after SAH( P 0. 05). Rhy can reduce the expression of BA p-p38 MAPK,p-p53,cleaved-Caspase-3 apoptosis protein in endothelial cell by immunofluorescence compared with SAH + NS group. Conclusion Rhy can attenuate CVS severty after SAH partly through eudothelial cell appotosis via p38MAPK-p53-Caspase-3 pathway.