Abstract:Objective To explore the therapeutic effect of Dexmedetomidine on delayed hypothermia treatment of cerebral hemorrhage in rats. Methods Rat model of cerebral hemorrhage was established by stereotaxic caudate nucleus injection. Rats were randomly divided into model group, delayed hypothermia group, Dexmedetomidine group and Dexmedetomidine combined with delayed hypothermia group (n = 19). Rats in sham group received all procedure except hemorrhage. The neurological deficit (NDS) score, brain tissue water content, apoptosis rate in brain tissue, serum levels of inflammatory cytokines including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin -8 (IL-8) and brain injury markers were detected. Results Rats in model group experienced an increased levels of NDS score, brain tissue water content, apoptosis rat in brain tissue around hematoma, serum TNF-α as well as IL-8, serum neuronal enolase (NSE) and S100β protein (S100β) (P < 0.05) when compared with those in sham group (P < 0.05). Treatment of Dexmedetomidine or delayed hypothermia induced a significant decrease of the mentioned indexes compared with model group (P < 0.05) while therapeutic effect of Dexmedetomidine plus delayed hypothermia was synergistic compared to Dexmedetomidine or delayed hypothermia only group (P < 0.05). Conclusions Dexmedetomidine enhances the therapeutic effect of delayed hypothermia therapy in rats model of cerebral hemorrhage.