According to researchers, a new drug has exhibited promising treatment implications in protecting against the effects of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in rats and may pave the way for future clinical trials to investigate its treatment possibilities. A recent news release reports that researchers administered the drug clazosentan to brain-injured rats through intravenous (IV) line several different times following injury. Researchers say that the rats’ blood flow was measured in the hippocampus and sensory motor cortex with an MRI brain scan. The researchers then reportedly tested the rats’ behavior and ability in learning a maze.
The results suggest that clazosentan reduced the effects of TBI on blood flow to the hippocampus by 25% at 4 hours following TBI, and 23% at 48 hours following TBI. Researchers add that rats treated with the drug at 12 hours post-injury exhibited conflicting results, with some rats improving and others worsening or remaining the same. According to researchers, during the trial clazosentan was most effective when administered 2 hours post-injury and again at 24 hours following the trauma. The results also note that the rats performed better in the maze when given the drug at 2 hours and 24 hours post-injury.
Researchers emphasize that the study provides a foundation for future clinical trials aimed at investigating the possibilities of clazosentan use in the treatment of TBI.
Source: American Academy of Neurology
