Objective: To investigate the effects of nimodipine on changes of endothelin after head injury.
Methods: Sixty-five adult rabbits were randomized into an injury group (IG, n=30), a nimodipine-treatment group (NTG, n=30) and a control group (CG, n=5). With their heads unfixed, the animals in IG and NTG were injured in the frontal-parietal zone with BIM-II bioimpact. Blood samples and brain tissue were collected before and after injury. The endothelin level was measured with RIA.
Results: The endothelin level in plasma and brain tissue was significantly increased 24 hours after injury. At the 8th or/and 24th hours postinjury, the endothelin level was significantly lower in NTG than that in IG.
Conclusions: Nimodipine can prevent endothelin from elevation and act as a practical endothelin antagonist after head injury clinically.