PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF DIPFLUZINE ON EXPERIMENTAL BRAIN EDEMA IN RATS

The effects of dipfluzine diphenylmethyl-4-(3-(4-fluorobenzoyl))-piper azine, Dip), a new calcium antagonist developed in China, on experimen tal brain edema in female Wistar rats with bilateral carotid artery li gation were compared with those of cinnarizine (Cin). Dip 25-100 mg.kg -1 ip protected the rats against the characteristic signs of global ce rebral ischemia that correlate well with the development of brain edem a. Its effects were more potent than those of Cin; and the effects of both drugs were more potent by both pretreatment and posttreatment tha n those by posttreatment alone. Dip 50 mg.kg-1 ip attenuated the reduc tion in cerebral blood flow (CBF) and the infarct size after occlusion , but did not alter CBF before ischemia. These findings suggested that Dip may be potentially useful to treat ischemic brain edema in part b y preserving CBF in the ischemic zone. RN