Effects of flunarizine on cadmium‐induced Purkinje cell loss in rats

Abstract

SUMMARYThe effects of the calcium channel blocker flunarizine on cadmium-induced Purkinje cell loss in the cerebellum of rats were investigated. Rats were divided into three groups: control, cadmium, and cadmium+flunarizine.Saline was administered intracortically to the first group, cadmium sulphate (0.0021 mg/kg) to the second group, and cadmium sulphate (0.0021 mg/kg) and flunarizine (1 mg/kg) to the third group. All rats were observed for 1 week, but only the rats in the third group were injected with flunarizine (10 mg/kg/day, i.p.) during this period. One week later, all rats were perfused intracardially.Series of frontal sections from the cerebellum were stained with thionin. Purkinje cells were counted at x 400 magnification under a light microscope. Purkinje cell density was 20.

Neuroprotective effect of nicardipine on cadmium‐induced Purkinje cell death in rat cerebellum

“…In previous study (23) flunarizine was shown to reduce the cadmium neurotoxicity by a factor of 65 %. This effect of flunarizine may be due to the large specturm of effect on different types of Ca2' channels such as N, T and P-type voltage-gated calcium channels and also sodium channels (24,25).…”