This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Cohan, S. L. Articles by Chen, M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Cohan, S. L. Articles by Chen, M.

Stroke, Vol 23, 229-233, Copyright © 1992 by American Heart Association

ARTICLES

Effect of flunarizine on electroencephalogram recovery and brain temperature in gerbils after brain ischemia

SL Cohan, D Redmond and M Chen
Department of Neurology, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: This study was designed to determine whether flunarizine enhances the rate of brain recovery as measured by electroencephalography after cerebral ischemia and whether these effects are attributable to changes in brain temperature. METHODS: Male gerbils (n = 81) were treated with either 10 mg/kg flunarizine or its vehicle, beta-cyclodextrin, intraperitoneally, 60 minutes before bilateral carotid occlusion of either 4 or 6 minutes' duration. The electroencephalogram was continuously recorded in the preischemic, ischemic, and postischemic stages of the experiment and rated for the time necessary for the return of 4-6, 7-10, and 11-15 Hz activity. In a second set of experiments, intracerebral temperature was monitored for 60 minutes before ischemia, during 10 minutes of carotid occlusion, and for 60 minutes after ischemia. RESULTS: Flunarizine pretreatment resulted in significantly more rapid return of electroencephalographic activity in each of the three frequency categories monitored when compared with those animals pretreated with vehicle alone (p less than 0.001). Flunarizine had no effect on brain temperature before, during, or up to 60 minutes after termination of ischemia. CONCLUSIONS: Flunarizine, which has been of efficacy in reducing neuronal death, mortality, and functional impairment when administered after ischemic insults, may have prophylactic value in accelerating brain recovery from ischemia, but does not have this effect as a result of altered brain temperature.