Effects of cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase inhibitors on cerebral edema induced by freezing lesions in rats.

The effects of indomethacin and/or nordihydroguaiaretic acid on cerebral edema were studied in rats with vasogenic edema induced by freezing lesions. The results demonstrated that the intracranial pressure, water content, and sodium and calcium but not potassium content were significantly decreased in cerebral edema tissue but only 48 h after pretreatment with indomethacin (10 mg/kg), nordihydroguaiaretic acid (3 mg/kg) or their combination in half doses. We suggest that the metabolites of arachidonic acid could contribute to the pathogenesis of cerebral edema.