Effect of cerebrolysin on the levels of glutathione and 5-HT in different regions of rat brain in presence of dantrolene

The aim was to evaluate if cerebrolysin in combination with dantrolene alter the effect of oxidative damage in different regions of brain and their relation with levels of Ca2+. Wistar rats (5 per group) received treatments as follows: group I control (mannitol 50 mg/mL), group II cerebrolysin, group III dantrolene and group IV cerebrolysin and dantrolene. Calcium was measured in serum as well as in different regions of the rats’ brain. The levels of glutathione (GSH) and serotonin (5-HT), as well as lipid peroxidation and total ATPase activity were measured in cortex, hemispheres, cerebellum and medulla oblongata. Results. The levels of Ca2+ increased significantly (P < 0.05) in cortex, hemispheres and medulla oblongata of animals that received dantrolene and cerebrolysin alone or combined. GSH levels increased significantly in the cortex of rats treated with only cerebrolysin and dantrolene, but decreased in the cerebellum of all groups (P < 0.05). In the cortex, cerebellum and medulla oblongata, 5-HT decreased significantly (P < 0.05). These results suggest that cerebellum is the most sensible region of the brain to cerebrolysin and dantrolene and that both induce changes in cellular regulation and biochemical responses to oxidative stress and serotonergic metabolism in brain regions, and hence, their probable neuroprotective effect on brain.