title: Isradipine prevents global and regional cocaine-induced changes in brain blood flow: a preliminary study.
abstract: The L-type calcium channel antagonist, isradipine, reduces brain ischemia in animal models of ischemic stroke. These effects of isradipine appear more pronounced in dopamine (DA) rich brain regions. These same DA-rich brain regions have also been shown to be the areas most affected by cocaine-induced ischemic changes. Using a novel quantified approach to single photon emission computerized tomography, we demonstrated that isradipine pre-treatment prevented cocaine-induced ischemic changes, especially in these DA-rich brain regions. This is the first demonstration that any medication, including isradipine, can prevent the ischemic effects of cocaine on brain blood flow. Isradipine may, therefore, be a useful therapeutic agent for the prevention of brain ischemia in cocaine addicts.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Laboratory and Experimental Alcohol Research Center, University of Texas - Health Science Center at Houston, 77030, USA.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Barron
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lamki
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wells
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kenny
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Overton
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dhother
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Abramson
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kramer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects*; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002536:Cerebral Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects*; D003042:Cocaine / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017275:Isradipine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D009294:Narcotics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D009294:Narcotics; D003042:Cocaine; D017275:Isradipine