To examine whether high dose
dexamethasone has any protective effects on
cerebral injury after cardiopulmonary
resuscitation. 15 healthy mongrel dogs underwent Pittsburgh standard ventricular fibrillation—cardiac arrest (VF—CA) model were randomLy divided into 2 groups . Dogs in group A(n=7) were given routine resuscitation treatment while those in group B(n=8) were injected dexamethasone 5mg/kg through femoral vein right after cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Venous blood samples were taken from the two groups respectively for determination of serum concentration of excitative amino
acid(EAA) 3 and 8 hours after resuscitation. Then, two blocks of right parietal lobe of cortex were removed from each dog for microscopy and electronmicroscopy. The results showed that contents of EAA S in plasma of dogs from group B decreased significantly as comparing with those in group A. Neuron edema in cerebral cortex decreased remarkably. Mitochondrial swelling and neuclear membrane injury were attenuated in group B. High dose of dexamethasone had protective effects on cerebral injury through inhibiting the release of EAAs in brain.