Intravenous antiarrhythmic doses of lidocaine increase the survival rate of CA1 neurons and improve cognitive outcome after transient global cerebral ischemia in rats

▶Ischemia during surgery can lead to neuronal damage and cognitive dysfunction. ▶Hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons are highly sensitive to injury from ischemia. ▶Lidocaine (i.v.) started before ischemia improves long-term CA1 neuronal survival. ▶ Lidocaine improves performance on the active place avoidance task after ischemia. ▶The active place avoidance cognitive task is dependent on functional CA1 neurons.