The 2-oxopyrrolidinacetamide piracetam reduces infarct brain volume induced by permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion in male rats

In this study, the temporal development of focal cerebral infarction induced by permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (pMCAO) and the effects of piracetam, a derivative of γ-aminobutyric acid widely used in clinical practice as a nootropic agent, on infarct area and volume were investigated. pMCAO caused a cerebral infarct whose size progressively increased after 3, 6, 9, and 24 h. Piracetam (125 mg/kg i.p.), administered 6, 9, and 22 h after pMCAO, did not reduce pMCAO-induced brain infarct area size detected at the 24th hour. By contrast, when this agent was administered at the doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg, it caused a marked reduction of the infarct area size. This reduction was observed in almost every brain slice affected by pMCAO, although statistical differences (p