Cerebral Protective Effect of Zonisamide
We have been studying the cerebral protective effect of various anticonvulsants and have elucidated the relationship between various types of anticonvulsants and their protective effects. The present study was carried out to evaluate the cerebral protective effect of Zonisamide (ZNS: 1,2-benzisoxazole-3-methanesulfonamide) known to be clinically effective against refractory epilepsy. Experiments on the following effects of ZNS were conducted in mice; 1) the effect of ZNS on the survival time after hypoxia, 2) its effect on the duration of the gasping movement induced by decapitation, and 3) its effect on the cerebral trauma of Manaka's model. The effect of ZNS on delayed neuronal death after a transient cerebral ischemia was studied in the gerbils by means of histological examination of the neuronal density in hippocampal CA1 sections. In the ZNS-treated group; 1) protective effects against hypoxia, ischemia, and trauma were confirmed, and 2) delayed neuronal death in hippocampal CA1 sections was suppressed significantly. In summary, ZNS clearly demonstrated its cerebral protective effect in animal models. Thus, anticonvulsants like ZNS and PHT, with an action to block the propagation of discharges are considered to possess a protective action, suggesting their future applicability for protection against various forms of cerebral damage in the acute phase.
