Abstract
Regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) was studied autoradiographically in a murine model of focal epidural brain compression, and the effect of vitamin E administration was investigated. Mean cortical CBF was reduced to 0.48 to 0.50 ml/gm/min following 2 or 24 hours of compression. Early (2 hours) following subsequent decompression, a mixed pattern of hypoperfusion and hyperperfusion was observed. Twenty‐four hours later, rCBF heterogeneities were less marked. Comparisons among animal groups raised on vitamin E–supplemented, vitamin E–normal, and vitamin E–deficient diets 2 hours after decompression revealed marked reductions in rCBF in the previously compressed cortex of the last two groups and hyperemia of the underlying hippocampus. The vitamin E–supplemented rats showed increased flow in the previously compressed cortex. In addition, vitamin E supplementation tended to eliminate rCBF gradients between subjacent zones. These data may help explain our previous observations of the beneficial effects of vitamin E on compression‐induced brain edema.
