AMELIORATIVE INFLUENCE OF A NOOTROPIC DRUG ON MOTOR-ACTIVITY OF RATS AFTER BILATERAL CAROTID-ARTERY OCCLUSION

The effects of the peptidergic nootropic drug Cerebrolysin(R) on spati al memory and motor activity were examined in intact and ischemic rats . Ischemic-hypoxic damage was induced by injection of Na-cyanide follo wed by bilateral occlusion of common carotid arteries. Immediately aft erwards Cerebrolysin(R) or saline was administered, either by continou s intraventricular (i.v.) infusion or by daily intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection. Rats were tested for spatial memory and motor activity in t he Morris water maze on days 3 and 4 post-surgery. The best dose of th e substance for i.p. administration was known from previous studies. T herefore we had to investigate the dose-response-relationship and tole rability of the drug after i.v. administration in intact rats. Infusio n (i.v.) of a high dose of Cerebrolysin(R) (0.57 mg/day) decreased mot or activity and spatial memory of intact rats (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively) but low dose of Cerebrolysin(R) was well tolerated in th e intact animals. Ischemia led to deterioration of motor activity in c ontrol rats (p < 0.01). Cerebrolysin(R) significantly counteracted del eterious motor changes due to ischemia up to the level of intact contr ols after both i.v. infusion (0.0057mg/day) and daily i.p. drug admini stration (100 mg/kg bw and day) indicating an accelerating recovery af ter ischemia.