Effect Of Acetazolamide On Brain Edema And Aquaporin-4 Expression After Cerebral Infarction In Rats

Objective:To study the effect of acetazolamide(AZA)on cerebral edema and aquaporin-4(AQP4)expression after cerebral infarction in rats.To explore the relations between ischemic cerebral edema and AQP4 expression.Methods:Male Sprague Dawley rats(weight,240-300 g)were randomly divided into sham operation,non-intervention,and AZA treatment groups.Cerebral infarction was induced by bilateral carotid artery ligation.Cerebral edema was measured by the dry-wet weight method,pathological changes in the infarction area were assessed by hematoxylin-eosin staining,and AQP4 expression in the infarction area was detected by immunohistochemistry.Results:Brain water content in the non-intervention and AZA treatment groups increased from6 h after cerebral infarction,peaked at 3 d,and then decreased gradually(P<0.05 versus sham).There were no changes in the sham group at any time-point.Brain water content in the AZA treatment group was significantly lower than in the non-intervention group(P<0.05).Cerebral histopathology showed neuronal death,tissue structure disorders,and light cytoplasmic staining in the non-intervention group,which was reduced in the AZA treatment group.No pathological changes were observed in the sham group.AQP4 expression in the non-intervention and AZA treatment groups increased from 6 h after cerebral infarction,peaked at 3 d,and then decreased gradually(P<0.05 versus sham).There were no changes in the sham group at any time-point.AQP4 expression in the AZA treatment group was significantly lower than in the non-intervention group(P<0.05).Conclusion:AZA can reduce edema after cerebral infarction,potentially through reducing AQP4 expression.