The Effect of Yangkyuksanhoa-tang Extracts on the Morphological Changes of the Basilar Artery after Cerebral Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

지주막하출혈에 의한 뇌기저동맥의 형태학적 변화에 미치는 양격산화탕(凉膈散火湯)의 효과

The present study was performed to investigate the effect of Yangkyuksanhoa-tang on the morphological changes of the basilar artery after experimentally induced subarachnoid hemonrrhages(SAH). Yangkyuksanhoa-tang has been used freguently for cerebrovascular accident Sprague Dawley rats weighing between 350-400 g were used. The 6 normal rats and 24 SAH elicited rats were used, The SAH induced by injection of the fresh autologus heart blood (0.3-0.4 ml) into the cisterna magna through the posterior atlanta-occipital membrane, Sample group was given 3.3 ml/kg/day of Yangkyuksanhoa-tang extracts for 2 days after SAH. The experimental animals were killed at 48hrs after SAH. The morphological changes of the arterial walls were examined by light and electron microscopy. Following are the obtained results: 1. In SAH elicited rats, the size of the lumen in basilar artery was diminished by about 45% and the thickness of arterial wall was increased by about 82%. In SAH elicited rats with Yangkyuksanhoa-tang treatment, the size of the lumen in basilar artery was merely diminished by about 18% and the thickness of arterial wall was merely increased by about 19%. 2. In light microscopic examination, the endothelium was swollen into a cuboid shape and the layer of smooth muscle was increased in the basilar artery of SAH elicited rats. In SAH elicited rats with Yangkyuksanhoa-tang treatment, the size of the lumen in basilar artery was enlarged and the thickness was decreased than in SAH elicited rats. The endothelium was flattened into a squamous shape and the layer of smooth muscle was decreased more than in SAH elicited rats. 3. In electron microscopic examination, the endothelial cells with fragmentation nuclei were changed into a cuboid shape and the internal elastic lamina were folded at the basilar artery of SAH elicited rat. The nuclei of smooth muscle cells were changed into a round or crumpled shape. The length of smooth muscle was shorten and thickness was increased. But all kinds of morphologic changes were diminished in SAH elicited rats with Yangkyuksanhoa-tang treatment. Conclusion : Yangkyuksanhoa-tang extracts were effective to treat cerebral vasospasm after experimentally induced subarachnoid hemorrhage in rats.