Progesterone Attenuates Early Brain Injury After Subarachnoid Hemorrhage In Rats

Objective:In this study, we explored the effect of Progesterone on cell apoptosis, stability of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), brain edema, and mortality in male Sprague-Dawley rats subjected to subarachnoid hemorrhage-induced EBI by endovascular Perforation.Methods:Rats (n=66) were randomly assigned to sham, SAH+vehicle, and SAH+progesterone groups. Progesterone (16mg/kg) or an equal volume of vehicle was administered at1h,6h and12h after SAH. Mortality within24h, neurological scores, brain edema, Evans blue dye extravasation, cell apoptosis, and the expression of casPase-3and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9were assayed after24h of SAH.Results:Progesterone treatment significantly reduced mortality, brain edema, Evans blue dye extravasation, cell apoptosis, expression of caspase-3and MMP-9, and improved neurological scores compared with the vehicle group.Conclusions:Progesterone may reduce EBI after SAH by inhibiting cell apoptosis and stabilizing the BBB.