Introduction: In the 4 vessel occlusion model in the rat it is being tested whether or not intrathecally administered baclofen has a neuroprotective effect.
Material and Methods: At first, 1µg/5µl baclofen is administered intracerebroventricularly over 5 minutes beginning 30 minutes before a 10 minutes lasting cerebral ischemia in male Wistar-rats, and compared with a control group. Thereafter 2µg/5µl baclofen are administered over 5 minutes beginning 30 minutes after a 10 minutes lasting cerebral ischemia and compared with a control group.
The lesioned pyramid cells are then quantified by counting under a light optical microscope and related to all pyramid cells in a histological slice through the CA1 to CA3 band of the hippocampus.
Results: Baclofen has in the above mentioned dosage and means of administration preischemically a significant damaging effect, while administered postischemically it has no significant neuroprotective effect at all.