Abstract
The aim of the present study was to characterize neuroprotective activity of NS-7, a mixed voltage-gated sodium and calcium channel blocker in a model of transient focal ischemia in rats. Ischemia was induced by a 75-min reversible occlusion of middle cerebral artery (MCAo) using a nylon filament. NS-7 (0.5 mg/kg i.v.) or 0.9% NaCl (1 ml/kg i.v.) were infused over 3 min starting 30 min after the MCAo. Infarct analysis was performed 72 h after ischemia. Application of NS-7 produced significant protection seen in neurological tests and diminished brain damage by 37% in total infarct (17.7 - 3.0% vs. 27.9 - 3.2% control; p <0.01; t -test), by 47.8% in cortical infarct size (8.5 - 2.4% vs. 16.2 - 2.4% control; p <0.01) and by 21.5% in striatal infarction (9.2 - 0.8% vs. 11.7 - 0.9% control; p <0.05). The results indicate that NS-7 has potential for neuroprotection against transient ischemic insult.