The effects of albendazole solution at scolocidal concentration in the rat brain

Abstract

Intra-operative cyst rupture is a catastrophic event in the intracranial hydatid cyst disease. Dissemination of the cyst contents may lead to severe anaphylactic reactions and an increased risk of recurrence. Several scolicidal agents have been used to eradicate the infective scolices but recurrences occur and no solution has been evaluated for its adverse e¨ects to the brain tissue. Being a speci®c scolocidal agent albendazole has been shown to be 100% scolicidal in vitro. In this study, we present the electrophysiological and histopathological e¨ects of intracerebral 2% albendazole injection in the rat brain. Vascular, neuronal and glial as well as in¯ammatory changes were evaluated in order to detect any adverse pharmacological e¨ects. Electrophysiological and most microscopic parameters showed no signi®cant e¨ects attributable to albendazole but in 25% of the albendazole group cerebral gliosis was detected whereas no gliosis was present in the control group. It is concluded that being a speci®c scolicidal agent albendazole o¨ers an e½cient alternative for ruptured cerebral hydatid disease, but the signi®cance and clinical importance of the gliosis should be further investigated.