Dipyridamole plus Triflusal versus Triflusal Alone in Infarct Reduction after Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion

Abstract

Background and purpose: The objective of this work is to study the dose-dependent effect of combination therapy with dipyridamole and triflusal over that of triflusal alone on infarct size after middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) ischemia.

Materials and methods: Male Wistar rats were subjected to a permanent MCAO in the right hemisphere. Rats received triflusal alone and with dipyridamole via oral route. Three days after surgery, infarct volumes were measured.

Results: The lower dose regime of triflusal (10 mg/kg) and dipyridamole (200 mg/kg) caused the greatest decrease in infarct size compared with higher dose regime of triflusal (30 mg/kg) and dipyridamole (200 mg/kg) (P <.01), triflusal (30 mg/kg) alone (P <.07), and vehicle-treated controls.

Conclusions: The lower dose combination of dipyridamole and triflusal appears to be more effective than triflusal alone after MCAO-induced cerebral ischemia. Therefore, there is a strong rationale to continue to examine the protective effects of triflusal and dipyridamole after cerebral ischemia.

Keywords: Ischemia; MCAO; dipyridamole; infarct; triflusal.