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Cerebral vasospasm (VS) is a major complication following a subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) after the rupture of a cerebral aneurysm. Many factors are involved, but many authors are now focusing on an imbalance between vasodilator and vasoconstrictor metabolites originating from the haemolysis of the subarachnoid clot. In the reported study. as a step towards establishing a multifactorial SAH therapy, we tried in a controlled experiment to enhance rat brain superoxide dismutase (SOD), EC 1.15.1.1., the natural scavenger of superoxide radicals, either by helium neon (HeNe) laser irradiation on the sinciput of rats, or by direct intravenous administration of SOD solution. In both cases we obtained a marked increase of brain total SOD, compared with the control animals and those who had simulated (sham) treatment.
