Neuroprotection afforded by a combination of eliprodil and a thrombolytic agent, rt-PA, in a rat thromboembolic stroke model

Abstract In the present study, we have assessed the efficacy of eliprodil, a neuroprotective agent which blocks both the modulatory polyamine site of the NMDA receptor and neuronal voltage-sensitive calcium channels, alone or in combination with the thrombolytic agent, rt-PA, in a rat embolic stroke model using a neurological score and the volume of the infarct as endpoints. Embolization was induced by intracarotid injection of an arterial blood clot. Eliprodil, administered at the dose of 1 mg/kg, iv, 10 min and 2 h 30 after embolization, reduced the neurological deficit by 54% ( P P P P P