OBJECTIVE
To compare the neuroprotective effects of Cytoflavine (CF) and citicoline (CC) in a rat model of hemorrhagic stroke (HS).
MATERIAL AND METHODS
The study was conducted on male Wistar rats. HS was induced by the injecting of autologous blood into brain tissue. Drugs CF and CC were administered in parenteral (10 days) and oral (25 days) forms. The experiment concluded with a 14-day post-treatment period. Neurological deficits were assessed after each treatment period, and brain tissue edema was measured immediately after the completion of both parenteral and oral treatments and again after 14 days of drug discontinuation. A series limited to a 10-day intravenous treatment with CF was created to compare the efficacy of single and combined treatment regimens.
RESULTS
HS stroke led to the development of significant neurological deficits. The greatest improvement was observed in the groups receiving oral treatments with CF and CC, which demonstrated pronounced neuroprotective effects and accelerated recovery of impaired functions, with some differences between the groups. The 10-day intravenous administration of CF and CC resulted in a comparable significant reduction in the severity of neurological deficits related to sensorimotor dysfunction. However, substantial recovery of cognitive function required continuation of oral treatment for 25 days. At the end of the oral treatment phase, edema severity in the affected hemisphere was comparable between both groups and significantly lower than in the placebo group. The therapeutic effect of CF (in terms of neurological deficit and brain tissue edema), in a combined administration regimen, persisted 14 days after discontinuation of treatment, in contrast to CC. In an additional series, where CF treatment was limited to a 10-day intravenous course, the anti-edema effect did not remain significant after the 14-day treatment cessation, with notable differences from the untreated group observed only in motor activity levels.
CONCLUSION
The comparative study of the neuroprotective effects of CF and CC in a rat model of HS revealed that both drugs significantly reduced brain edema and neurological deficits related to sensorimotor and cognitive impairments. CC showed a slight psychostimulatory effect and a shorter duration of action after treatment cessation, while CF exhibited a longer-lasting effect on brain tissue edema, cognitive, and sensorimotor functions after discontinuation. The separate series with only 10-day intravenous CF administration was insufficient to achieve a stable therapeutic effect, suggesting that the continuation of CF treatment with oral forms is required to maintain long-term benefits in the context of experimental HS in rats.
