Objective:To explore and compare protective effect of flunarizine and nimodipine on neurons during chronic
neurodegeneration.Methods:The
right sciatic nerve of 21 newborn rats (≤2 days) were transected as
experimental side, and the left one as control side.Flunarizine(25μg/g weight ) and nimodipine(20 μg/g weight ) were respectively injected subcutaneously daily in both experimental groups and equivalent solvent in control group 5 days after axotomy. Two weeks later the L 4-6 spinal cord was taken, spinal anterior horn neurons were observed and counted by microscopy. Results: During chronic
neurodegeneration, delayed treatment with flunarizine and nimodipine supported 78.3% and 58.1% in average of neuron survival respectively.The former was superior to the latter statistically,and both had statistically significant difference compared with control group( 53.2% survival). Spinal anterior horn neuron nucleus change on experimental side of flunarizine group was less, and atrophy of the neurons were lighter as compared with other 2 groups. Conclusion: Flunarizine and nimodipine have neuroprotective effects during chronic neurodegeneration, and the effects of flunarizine are more significant than that of nimodipine.