title: Protective effect of clonazepam on ischemic brain damage induced by 10-minute bilateral carotid occlusion in Mongolian gerbils.
abstract: A 10-min bilateral carotid occlusion (BCO) in a control group of Mongolian gerbils, induced a transient generalized epileptic activity both in the hippocampal and in the cortical regions, associated with motor manifestations. After recirculation, spiking activity persisted, reaching its maximum peak within 18-36 h and then slowly decreasing till its total disappearance on the 6th-7th day. On the 7th day, histological studies manifested a selective loss of CA1 hippocampal neurons. The treated gerbils (divided in 2 groups according to the dosage used) were administered clonazepam (CZP), a benzodiazepine receptor agonist, immediately after clamping and again every 24 h for the following three days at dosages of 0.05 and 0.1 mg/kg i.p., respectively. The drug inhibited epileptic activity in a dose-dependent manner, while it prevented CA1 neuronal loss at both doses. These results point to a possible derangement of the GABAergic system which probably in turn triggers an exaggerated excitation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy.
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Marciani
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Santone
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sancesario
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Massa
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stanzione
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bernardi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002998:Clonazepam / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D005849:Gerbillinae; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009410:Nerve Degeneration
chemical_list: D002998:Clonazepam