Modulation of neuroprotective effect of ischemic post-conditioning by dichlorobenzamil a Na+/Ca2+ exchanger inhibitor in mice

Abstract

The present study has been designed to investigate the modulatory role of dichlorobenzamil a Na+/Ca2+ exchanger inhibitor in ischemic post-conditioning-induced neuroprotection in mice. Bilateral carotid artery occlusion followed by reperfusion, produced a significant rise in cerebral infarct size along with impairment of memory and motor coordination. Ischemic post-conditioning involving three episodes of 10s carotid artery occlusion with intermittent reperfusion of 10s proceeding prolonged ischemic insult of 12min, produced a significant decrease in cerebral infarct size along with reversal of ischemia-reperfusion-induced impairment of memory and motor coordination. Ischemic post-conditioning-induced neuroprotective effects were significantly abolished by pretreatment with dichlorobenzamil (DBZ 0.5, 1mg/kg, intraperitoneal) a Na+/Ca2+ exchange inhibitor. It may be concluded that Na+/Ca2+ exchanger possibly plays an important role in ischemic post-conditioning-induced neuroprotection. © 2010 Pharmaceutical Society of Japan.