Effects of verapamil on CA1 pyramidal cells of hippocampus following ischemia reperfusion in rats

Brain ischemia is one of the most important problems in the world and causes severe brain damages, especially in CA1 region of hippocampus. Calcium channel blockers, such as verapamil, have neuroprotective effects. This study was done to investigate neuroprotective effects of verapamil on the CA1 region of hippocampus in the male rat. This experimental study was conducted on 24 male adult Wistar male rats (250-300 g) that were divided into four groups: control, ischemia, vehicle and treatment. For induction of ischemia, both common carotid arteries were blocked for 20 minute followed by reperfusion. Verapamil (10 mg/kg) was administrated 1 hour before and after ischemia intraperitoneally in treatment group. The brains were dissected and processed for Nissl staining. The results were analyzed by analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey’s tests. Data showed no significant difference between the number of viable pyramidal cells in CA1 region of hippocampus in control and 10 mg/kg verapamil treated groups, but number of pyramidal cells reduced in ischemia and vehicle groups and there was significant difference between these groups with control (P<0.05). This study showed that the injection 10mg/kg of verapamil can reduce damaged cells in CA1 region of hippocampus in rats that were subjected to transient global cerebral ischemia. It seems that administration of verapamil (10mg/kg) decreases severity of neuronal damage in CA1 cells of hippocampus in rat following transient ischemia reperfusion.