Effects of certain cerebral circulation activating drugs on regional cerebral blood flow in rats

The effects of certain cerebral circulation activating drugs on regional ce rebral flow (rCBF) in the frontal cortex (FCOR), hippocampus (HPC) and nucl eus caudatus (CAD) were investigated using the hydrogen clearance method in rats. All the drugs in the present study, i.e., ozagrel, ifenprodil, pento xifylline, cinnarizine and dilazep, caused an increase in rCBF in the FCOR, HPC and CAD. Ozagrel was the most potent in increasing rCBF at the FCOR. O zagrel, ifenprodil, cinnarizine and dilazep were more effective than pentox ifylline in increasing rCBF at the HPC. On the other hand, all the drugs sh owed almost the same potency in increasing rCBF at the CAD. These results s uggested that measurement of rCBF is useful for estimating the efficacy of cerebral circulation activating drugs. (C) 1999 Prous Science. All rights r eserved.