Effects of Dexamethasone on Distributions of Water and Pertechnetate in Brains of Cats After Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion

Abstract

Large parenteral doses of dexamethasone were given to five of ten cats after transorbital occlusion of one middle cerebral artery and to two of four cats after sham operations. Two days later the water content and brain/blood ratios of pertechnetate were measured in samples of cerebral tissue that were categorized as nonischemic, ischemic, or infarcted. Values for infarcted tissue were greater than those for ischemic tissue in untreated cats, but not in cats that received dexamethasone. The drug had no apparent effect in ischemic tissue that was not necrotic. These results help explain inconsistencies in previous studies and help define the potential usefulness of dexamethasone for treatment of cerebrovascular disease.