Increased TRPM4 Activity in Cerebral Artery Myocytes Contributes to Cerebral Blood Flow Reduction After Subarachnoid Hemorrhage in Rats.

Cerebral blood flow (CBF) reduction underlies unfavorable outcomes after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Transient receptor potential melastatin-4 (TRPM4) has a pivotal role in cerebral artery myogenic tone maintenance and CBF regulation under physiological conditions. However, the role of TRPM4 in CBF reduction after SAH is unclear. In this study, we aimed at testing whether TRPM4 would contribute to CBF reduction after SAH in vivo and determining underlying mechanisms. Rat SAH model was established by stereotaxic injection of autologous nonheparinized arterial blood at the suprasellar cistern. A TRPM4 blocker, 9-phenanthrol (9-Phe), was infused through an intraventricular catheter connected to a programmed subcutaneous pump to evaluate the contribution of TRPM4 to SAH outcomes. TRPM4 expression and translocation in cerebral artery myocytes were detected by immunoblotting. Macroscopic currents in cerebral artery myocytes were determined by whole-cell patch clamp. Myogenic tone of cerebral arteries was studied by pressurized myography. Cortical and global CBFs were measured via laser Doppler flowmetry and fluorescent microspheres, respectively. After SAH, TRPM4 translocation and macroscopic current density increased significantly. Furthermore, TRPM4 accounted for a greater proportion of myogenic tone after SAH, suggesting an upregulation of TRPM4 activity in response to SAH. Cortical and global CBFs were reduced after SAH, but were restored significantly by 9-Phe, implying that TRPM4 contributed to CBF reduction after SAH. Collectively, these discoveries show that increased TRPM4 activity has a pivotal role in CBF reduction after SAH, and provide a novel target for the management of cerebral perfusion dysfunction following SAH.