Tetrandrine vs nicardipine in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion damages in gerbils.
OBJECTIVE
To study the effects of tetrandrine (Tet) vs nicardipine (Nic) on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion damages.


METHODS
Cerebral ischemia was produced by 10-min occlusion of bilateral carotid arteries followed by 5-min reperfusion in gerbils. The changes in electroencephalogram (EEG), calcium and water contents, lipid peroxide (LPO) content and ultrastructure in gerbil brains were compared.


RESULTS
Pretreatment with Tet (15 mg.kg-1, i.v.) and Nic (0.25 mg.kg-1, i.v.) enhanced the recovery of EEG amplitude, reduced the calcium (151.2 +/- 1.1 and 155.3 +/- 2.4 mg/kg dry wt in Tet and Nic groups vs 193 +/- 8 mg/kg dry wt in ischemia-reperfusion group, P < 0.05) and water contents, attenuated the increase in LPO content (293 +/- 29 and 276 +/- 23 mumol.kg-1 wet wt in Tet and Nic groups vs 427 +/- 24 mumol.kg-1 wet wt in ischemia-reperfusion group, P < 0.01), and diminished the ultrastructural abnormalities of cortex and hippocampus in gerbil brain during ischemia and reperfusion.


CONCLUSIONS
Tet and Nic had protective effects against ischemia-reperfusion brain damages in gerbils. The effects of Tet were similar to, but less potent than those of Nic.
Sun
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Department of Pharmacology, Nanjing Medical University, China.
Liu
T P
TP
D000470:Alkaloids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D044182:Benzylisoquinolines; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000378:metabolism*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005849:Gerbillinae; D008297:Male; D009529:Nicardipine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000378:metabolism*
D000470:Alkaloids; D044182:Benzylisoquinolines; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; C009438:tetrandrine; D009529:Nicardipine; D002118:Calcium