Effects of flunarizine on postischemic blood flow, energy metabolism and neuronal damage in the rat brain

The effects of flunarizine on local cerebral blood flow, cortical energy metabolism and neuronal necrosis were evaluated in a rat model of forebrain ischemia. The application of flunarizine (2 × 40 mg/kg p.o.) at 24 and 4 h before ischemia accelerated the restoration of cortical high-energy phosphates during early post-ischemic recirculation and also increased the flow in cortical but not in hipoocampal areas. Neuronal necrois was reduced in the hippocampal CA 1 sector but unchanged in the cortex. It is concluded that flunarizine reduces ischemic damage mainly via a direct effect on brain tissue.