title: Effects of riluzole on the evolution of focal cerebral ischemia: a magnetic resonance imaging study.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of riluzole on the lesion induced by a permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in rats. Riluzole at 4 or 8 mg/kg i.v. significantly reduced the cortical ischemic brain damage. With the most effective dose of 8 mg/kg, the time evolution of the lesion was assessed by T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) repeated on the same animals after MCAO. MRI obtained at 24, 48, and 72 hours after MCAO showed a progressive increase of the ischemic lesion, except in the cortex of the riluzole-treated rats (8 mg/kg i.v.). Furthermore, there was no difference between lesion volumes as measured by MRI or by histology. This study indicates that MRI may be a valuable method to quantify in vivo the neuroprotective profile of a drug.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mottet
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Demeure
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rataud
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lucas
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wahl
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Warscotte
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Thiran
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Goudemant
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Maldague
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Maloteaux
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Stutzmann
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D019782:Riluzole / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D019782:Riluzole