Prevention of ischemic and postischemic brain edema by a novel calcium antagonist (PN200-110)

The effect of PN200-110, a novel calcium antagonist, on the formation of brain edema was examined with rats using a middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion model. PN200-110 was effective in preventing the formation of brain edema in 6-h ischemia and in 3-h reperfusion following 3-h ischemia, which were cases in which great accumulations of calcium were autoradiographically observed. Furthermore, PN200-110 diminished the excessive accumulation of calcium in the MCA area involved. These results indicate that an inhibition of the massive influx of calcium into brain cells by PN200-110 may partially ameliorate cell damage, resulting in prevention of brain edema.