Objective      To observe cephaledema and cell apoptosis in rats following subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH)

and to explore the mechanism of platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR) involving in the development of early brain injury.       Methods      Adult male SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups including a

sham operation group

a SAH group

a SAH+imatinib group

and a SAH+PDGF-BB group (n=18). SAH mouse models were established by using intravascular silk puncture of the internal carotid artery crotch. The rats of the SAH+imatinib group were given an intraperitoneal injection of imatinib at 1 h before modeling

while those of the SAH+PDGF-BB group were given an intracerebroventricular injection of PDGF-BB at 1 h before modeling. After treatment for 24 h

the mortality

water content in brain and neurological function score were determined. Caspase-3 expression in hippocampus was detected by RT-PCR and Western blotting.       Results      The mortality

brain water content and caspase-3 expression level were the highest in the SAH+PDGF-BB group

but the neurological function score was the lowest (

P

0.01). The parameters were reduced when SAH rats were injected with imatinib (

P

0.01).       Conclusion      PDGFR may participate in the pathogenesis of early brain injury following SAH

and its antagonist imatinib can reduce brain injury to a certain degree.