Effect of flunarizine on electroencephalogram recovery and brain temperature in gerbils after brain ischemia.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE This study was designed to determine whether flunarizine enhances the rate of brain recovery as measured by electroencephalography after cerebral ischemia and whether these effects are attributable to changes in brain temperature. METHODS Male gerbils (n = 81) were treated with either 10 mg/kg flunarizine or its vehicle, beta-cyclodextrin, intraperitoneally, 60 minutes before bilateral carotid occlusion of either 4 or 6 minutes' duration. The electroencephalogram was continuously recorded in the preischemic, ischemic, and postischemic stages of the experiment and rated for the time necessary for the return of 4-6, 7-10, and 11-15 Hz activity. In a second set of experiments, intracerebral temperature was monitored for 60 minutes before ischemia, during 10 minutes of carotid occlusion, and for 60 minutes after ischemia. RESULTS Flunarizine pretreatment resulted in significantly more rapid return of electroencephalographic activity in each of the three frequency categories monitored when compared with those animals pretreated with vehicle alone (p less than 0.001). Flunarizine had no effect on brain temperature before, during, or up to 60 minutes after termination of ischemia. CONCLUSIONS Flunarizine, which has been of efficacy in reducing neuronal death, mortality, and functional impairment when administered after ischemic insults, may have prophylactic value in accelerating brain recovery from ischemia, but does not have this effect as a result of altered brain temperature.