Neuroprotective effect of law dose riluzole in gerbil model of transient global ischemia

Riluzole is a neuroprotective agent the efficacy of which was proven in amy otrophic lateral sclerosis in human and in animal models of cerebral ischem ia. However, the dosage used in animal experiments was much higher than tha t in human. We investigated the efficacy of low dose riluzole, which was si milar to the dose used in human trials, in animal model of global ischemia. Global ischemia was induced in male Mongolian gerbils for 5 min under moni toring of rectal temperature. Riluzole (0.8 mg/kg) were injected intraperit oneally 30 min before ischemia. Seven days after ischemia, animals were dec apitated and surviving nerve cells in hippocampal CA1 area were quantified. The number of surviving cells was compared between in riluzole-treated and control groups a nd the former showed statistically significant better sur vivals than the latter (P < 0.001). (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.