Neuroprotective effect of mild hypothermia in the temporary brain ischemia in cats.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the neuroprotective effect of mild hypothermia during temporary focal ischemia in cats. METHOD 20 cats underwent middle cerebral artery 60 minutes occlusion and 24 hours reperfusion: 10 under normothermia and 10 under mild hypothermia (32 masculine C). Brain coronal sections 2mm thick were stained with 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium hydrochloride, photographed and evaluated with software for volume calculation. RESULTS Cortical ischemia was found in 7 and basal ganglia ischemia in 8 animals of group 1 and in both regions in 5 animals of group 2 (no difference: p=0.6499 for cortical; p=0.3498 for basal ganglia). No ischemia was found in 5 animals of group 2 and in none of group 1 (significant difference, p=0.0325). The infarct volume was greater in group 1 than 2 (p=0.0433). CONCLUSION Mild hypothermia did not interfere with location of ischemia, but it was effective for reducing the infarct volume.