ABSTRACT
Ischaemic brain injuries, that results from stroke, are common and often lead to permanent residual disabilities. This work investigates the role Piracetam, a nootrophic drug, played in modulation of induced brain injury to key areas of the brain; cerebrum, cerebellum and hippocampus of adult Wistar rats. Drugs like Vitamin C, Vitamin E and corticosteroids have been known to improve damage resulting from ischaemic damage to the brain. Piracetam, like wise has been known to improve higher brain functions such as memory and mental alertness. The effect of paracetam was investigated on twenty wistar rats that were divided into five groups of four animals each. Ischaemic brain injury was then induced by transient bilateral occlusion of the carotid arteries. Motor function and memory was assessed and comparison made between those animals that did not receive any drugs and those that received Piracetam and or vitamin E. Serum and brain malonylaldehyde (MDA) levels, histological assessment of cerebrum, cerebellum and hippocampal brain were studied in animals in the various groups. Results show that the percentage and grade of excitability score, forepaw grip time and transfer latency period in an elevated plus maze was higher for those animals that received vitamin E or a combination of vitamin E and Piracetam when compared with those that received Piracetam only. The differences were however not statistically significant. Serum malonylaldehyde was found to be significantly higher in those animals that did not receive any drugs following induction of ischaemia when compared with those that received either Piracetam, vitamin E or a combination of the two drugs. Furthermore serum malonylaldehyde levels were significantly higher in those groups that received vitamin E when compared to those that received Piracetam only. Brain tissue malonylaldehyde levels were found to be higher in those animals that received Piracetam only when compared with the group that received a combination of the two drugs. When vitamin E alone was administered, malonylaldehyde levels in the brain were higher when compared to the group that received Piracetam only. Photomicrographs of the cerebral cortex, cerebellum and hippocampus showed marked evidence of neurodegeneration in the untreated group compared to those groups that received drug treatment. Among the groups treated, neuronal cell ischaemic changes were more evident in the group treated with Piracetam alone when compared with the groups treated with Piracetam and or vitamin E.