Experimental rheoencephalographic and electroencephalographic investigations on piracetam

The influence of piracetam (2-oxo-1-pyrrolidine-acetamide, Pyramem) on the cerebral circulation and brain bioelectrical activity of cortex and mesencephalic reticular formation (RF) was studied in acute experiments on cats which were encéphale isolé preparations. The methods of local cerebral rheoencephalography (REG) and electroencephalography (EEG) were used. The following REG parameters were assayed: anacrotic section of the curve and its relative part, amplitude and duration of the wave. The arterial blood pressure was followed continuously. The results show that upon piracetam administration (150 mg/kg i.v.) an improvement of the REG parameters of the cortex and RF is observed-an increase of the amplitude and decrease of the values of the anacrotic section of the curve and its relative part. The changes observed indicate a cerebro-vascular resistance decrease and give indirect evidence of cerebral blood volume increase. EEG data are characterized mainly by an increase of alpha-waves, both of cortex and RF. Suggestions for possible mechanism of action of piracetam are made.