Dexmedetomidine Administration in a Rat Model of Kaolin-induced Hydrocephalus

Hydrocephalus is defined as an abnormal enlargement of cerebral ventricles due to disturbed cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) dynamics. It is characterized by neuroinflammatory processes in the brain parenchyma and CSF, with pathological findings including reactive gliosis, axonal and neuronal damage, and loss of myelin sheaths. The use of anti-inflammatory medications in hydrocephalus may be an effective treatment strategy for neuroprotection. In this study, we used a rat model of hydrocephalus induced by kaolin. We aimed to demonstrate the potential anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects of dexmedetomidine on hydrocephalic brains using MRI and morphometric analysis.