We evaluated the neuroprotective role of rapamycin, a mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) kinase inhibitor, in cerebral ischaemia and locomotor function in a mouse model of subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH). Pretreatment with rapamycin, an mTOR kinase inhibitor, resulted in better recovery from cerebral hypoxia early after SAH than control (P .05), while the values of peak flow velocity in the middle cerebral artery did not change significantly (P .05). Average distance travelled and the ratio of central-area distance/total travelled distance determined by open-field test after day 14 was significantly higher in mice pretreated with rapamycin than in control mice (P .05). Inhibition of the mTOR pathway could be protective against post-SAH early brain injury, ameliorating brain tissue hypoxia and locomotor hypoactivity.
