Conclusions
Moderate chronic hypertension resulted in more severe ICH-induced neuronal death and neurological deficits, but did not exaggerate hematoma enlargement and perihematomal brain edema in the rat ICH models.
Methods
This 2-part study was performed in 12-week-old male SHRs and Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats. First, the rats received an intracaudate injection of 0.3 U collagenase, and hematoma sizes were determined at 24 hours. Second, rats were injected with 100 μl autologous whole blood into the right basal ganglia. Brain edema, neuronal death, ferritin expression, microglia activation, and neurological deficits were examined.
Results
Hematoma sizes were the same in SHR and WKY rats 24 hours after collagenase injection. The SHRs had greater neuronal death and neurological deficits after blood injection. Intracerebral hemorrhage also resulted in higher brain ferritin levels and stronger activation of microglia in SHRs. However, perihematomal brain edema was the same in the SHRs and WKY rats. Conclusions: Moderate chronic hypertension resulted in more severe ICH-induced neuronal death and neurological deficits, but did not exaggerate hematoma enlargement and perihematomal brain edema in the rat ICH models.