Effects of a Ca2+ entry blocker (nilvadipine) on acute focal cerebral ischemia in rats.
The effects of nilvadipine, a Ca2+ entry blocker, on focal cerebral ischemia were investigated in rats having unilateral middle cerebral artery occlusion. All rats had 24 h ischemia, and were divided into three groups (ten rats per group). Groups 1 and 2 received 1.0 and 3.2 mg/kg nilvadipine s.c. respectively, just after the occlusion. Control rats received an equal volume of the vehicle. Control animals had a % infarct volume of 28.2 +/- 11.4%, and a left/right hemispheric volume ratio of 112 +/- 12%. Group-1 and -2 rats had % infarct volumes of 25.5 +/- 11.6% and 13.9 +/- 9.2% (p less than 0.01) respectively, and left/right hemispheric volume ratios of 111 +/- 9% and 103 +/- 7% (p less than 0.05), respectively. Thus, the drug reduced the infarct size and the brain edema in a dose-dependent manner. The significant decrease in the infarct volume was observed in the periphery of the frontoparietal cortex. This study supports the hypothesis that nilvadipine may be a potential therapeutic agent for cerebral ischemia. Neuropathological findings suggest the possible therapeutic effects of the drug in the ischemic penumbra.
Kawamura
S
S
Department of Surgical Neurology, Research Institute for Brain and Blood Vessels-Akita, Japan.
Yasui
N
N
Shirasawa
M
M
Fukasawa
H
H
D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D001929:Brain Edema / Q000517:prevention & control; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; C035100:nilvadipine; D009543:Nifedipine