Evaluation of effects of memantine on cerebral ischemia in rats
Mehmet U Aluclu1, Seyfi Arslan, Abdullah Acar
1Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Dicle University, Diyarbakir, 21280, Turkey. Tel. +90 (412) 2488001. Ext. 4541. Fax. +90 (412) 2488440.
Objective:
To evaluate the effects of memantine on infarct size in cerebral ischemia and on neurological outcome after temporary middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) and reperfusion in rats.
Methods:
In this study, performed between 2002-2004 in Dicle University School of Medicine, Diyarbakir, Turkey, 30 adult Sprague-Dawley rats were used. Cerebral ischemia was constituted by the intraluminal filament method with a 4-0 nylon suture. Reperfusion was started after 2 hours of MCAO. The rats were randomly divided into 2 groups as control and memantine. Saline 0.9% (0.5 ml/kg) and memantine (30 mg/kg) were administered via nasogastric intubations. Three coronal slices of 2 mm thickness were obtained from cerebrum, cerebellum, and brain stem, and were stained with a 2% solution of triphenyltetrazolium chloride. Transparent sheets were placed over each section and the areas of the brain and infarct were measured.
Results:
Forty-five slices from each group (total 90) were obtained. Percent of ischemic area (%) in cerebrum, cerebellum, and brain stem level in memantine was lower than those of the control group (p<0.0001). In addition, we determined an improvement in neurological score at 24th and 72nd hours in the rats that have been given memantine. The memantine group showed significantly better recovery than the control group (p<0.0001).
Conclusion:
We concluded that memantine may decrease ischemic area in experimental cerebral ischemia in rats and it seems that memantine may be beneficial in cerebral ischemia.
Insights
Memantine significantly reduced brain infarct size and improved neurological function in rats following cerebral ischemia. This suggests memantine may be a beneficial treatment for stroke and related conditions.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
- Ischemic Stroke Research
Background:
- Cerebral ischemia, a leading cause of stroke, results in significant brain damage and neurological deficits.
- Current treatments for ischemic stroke are limited, highlighting the need for novel therapeutic agents.
- Memantine, an NMDA receptor antagonist, has shown neuroprotective potential in various neurological conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of memantine in reducing infarct volume in a rat model of cerebral ischemia.
- To assess the impact of memantine on neurological outcomes following transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) and reperfusion in rats.
Main Methods:
- The study utilized a transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model in 30 Sprague-Dawley rats.
- Rats were randomly assigned to receive either saline (control) or memantine (30 mg/kg) via nasogastric intubation.
- Infarct size was quantified using triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining on coronal brain slices, and neurological scores were assessed at 24 and 72 hours post-reperfusion.
Main Results:
- Memantine administration resulted in a significant reduction in the percentage of ischemic area in the cerebrum, cerebellum, and brain stem compared to the control group (p<0.0001).
- Rats treated with memantine demonstrated significantly improved neurological scores at both 24 and 72 hours after reperfusion (p<0.0001).
- The memantine group exhibited markedly better functional recovery compared to the control group.
Conclusions:
- Memantine effectively decreases the ischemic area in experimental cerebral ischemia in rats.
- The findings suggest that memantine holds promise as a therapeutic agent for managing cerebral ischemia.
- Further research into memantine's neuroprotective effects in stroke is warranted.
