[Effect of pharmacological agents on the development of experimental brain edema]

The effect of some neuroleptics, adreno-, sympatho- and cholinolytic substances on the development of "traumatic" and "mono-iodoacetate" brain edemas was studied in tests with rats. It was established that the neuroleptic chlorpromazine, the alpha-adreno-blocking agents phentolamine and dopegit and also the central M-cholinolytic benactizine display a marked antiedemic action in cases of "traumatic" edema. It is presumed that the development of the "traumatic" brain edema comes as a result of excitation of the alpha-adrenoreceptors in the CNS and the antiedemic action of the mentioned drugs is caused by their blocking. The development of the "monoiodoacetate" edema is due to disturbed cellular metabolism. The drugs under study do not prevent metabolic disorders.