Morphometric Analysis of the Influence of Zinc on the Vasospastic Femoral Artery in Rats

Abstract

Aim: Cerebral vasospasm is one of the most prominent causes of morbidity and mortality after subarachnoid hemorrhage. It is well known that free radicals and lipid peroxidation exist among the theories of vasoconstriction in the etiopathogenesis of cerebral vasospasm. Zinc is responsible for the activity of superoxide dismutase enzyme and may prevent or minimize the vasoconstriction that is caused by free oxygen radicals. Many studies have been conducted with antioxidant agents, but we have not found any investigation for the prevention of cerebral vasospasm with zinc by increasing the enzyme activity.Materials and Methods: Rats were divided into 3 groups: group 1 (n = 8, control group), group 2 (n = 8, vasospasm group), and group 3 (n = 8, vasospasm+ZnCl 2 group). Lumen diameter and thickness of vessel wall were compared histopathologically.Results: In the statistical comparison of groups 1 and 2, significant thickening in the vessel wall and decrease in the diameter of lumen were determined in group 2 (P < 0.05). Although no difference between the 2 groups were determined in the statistical comparison of diameter of the vessel lumen in groups 1 and 3, the thickness of the vessel wall was thicker in group 3 (P < 0.05). The diameter of the vessel lumen was wider in group 3 in the statistical comparison of groups 2 and 3 (P < 0.05), and the vessel wall was observed as thickened in group 2.Conclusions: All of these findings show us in the preliminary study that the vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage may be inhibited by the use of zinc.