Аннотация:Introduction: The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of lith-
ium chloride in various dosages on the volume of brain damage in
ischemic stroke in rats.Methods: The study used male rats weighing 315 ± 13.5 g. The long
focal ischemia model was used. The animals were split into five groups:
false-operated (median incision in the projection of the carotid artery
without ischemia), control (model of ischemic stroke with the intro-
duction of 0.9% NaCl) and three groups with the introduction of lith-
ium chloride at concentrations of 4.2 mg/kg, 21 mg/kg and 63 mg/kg,
respectively. Lithium chloride was administered immediately after the
termination of the occlusion of the middle cerebral artery and then
every 24 h until euthanasia. To assess the degree of brain damage, the
animals underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) on day 2, and
brain sections stained with 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride were
evaluated on day 7 after euthanasia.
Results: According to MRI data, lithium chloride at a dose of 4.2 mg/
kg did not significantly affect the volume of ischemic stroke and peri-
focal edema in relation to the control group on day 2 (p = 0.9). When
using a dose of 21 mg/kg, the volume of stroke (p = 0.04) and perifo-
cal edema was significantly lower (p = 0.03) than in the control group
(by 25% and 18%, respectively). Lithium chloride at a dose of 63 mg/kg
significantly reduced the volume of stroke (45%, p = 0.004) and peri-
focal edema (35%, p = 0.007). When determining the volume of the
lesion on day 7, the data were comparable with the results obtained
on day 2. When using a dose of 21 mg/kg, the stroke volume was 20%
lower (p = 0.04) than in the control group. Lithium chloride at a dose of
63 mg/kg reduced stroke volume by 40% (p = 0.0037).
Conclusions: Lithium chloride at dosages of 21 mg/kg and 63 mg/
kg significantly reduced the volume of ischemic stroke and perifocal
edema of the brain, but when using a concentration of 63 mg/kg, the
effect was more pronounced.