[Ultrastructural aspects of acute cerebral ischemia during nootropil administration (experimental study)]

Electron microscopy of the sensomotor cortex in 27 rats was performed at varying times (1, 3, 7 days) after arteria carotis communis occlusion. Three groups of rats (5 rats in every group) were treated by nootropil (500 mg/kg daily) in accordance with three time intervals. Control rats were undrugged. More preserved were neurons in the brain of rats treated by nootropil. Neuronal organelles had rare signs of irreversible damages. Membranes were more often preserved, organelles fragmentation and vacuolization were less pronounced. The experimental rats showed neurons containing numerous ribosomes and small new-formed mitochondria. The difference in neuronal structure in treated and untreated rats became more distinct 3-7 days after occlusion. The results obtained are suggested to be connected with the drug ability to normalize ATP metabolism, to stimulate phospholipid synthesis and ribosome function and to increase glucose utilization. The problem of using GABA derivatives in conditions of the most acute brain ischemia is discussed.