Nilvadipine, a new calcium channel blocker, reduces ischemic brain injury in rats.

The effects of nilvadipine, a dihydropyridine type calcium channel blocker, on cerebral infarction induced by focal brain ischemia was studied in rats. The area of infarction was measured 24 hr after occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) in spontaneously hypertensive rats using triphenyltetrazolium chloride. Nilvadipine, given immediately after MCA occlusion, reduced the area of infarction significantly at doses of 0.32 mg/kg (i.p.) and 3.2, 10 and 32 mg/kg (p.o.). Nicardipine suppressed the area of infarction at a dose of 32 mg/kg (p.o.). The results suggest that nilvadipine is effective against ischemic brain injury.