Rheoencephalographic and electroencephalographic studies on nicergoline.

The effect of nicergoline on the rheoencephalogram (REG) and on spontaneous electroencephalographic activity (EEG) was studied in acute experiments in cats. The following REG parameters were assayed: amplitude, anacrotic section of the curve and its relative part and dicrotic index. EEG spectra were derived from 10-sec samples of ECoG and the relative amplitude was estimated at 2 Hz-intervals from 0-44 Hz. The REG study showed that nicergoline (0.05 mg/kg i.v.) caused an increase of the amplitude, and a decrease of the anacrote, of the relative part of the anacrote and the dicrotic index - changes indicating a lowering of cerebrovascular resistance. EEG study showed a decrease of the slow activities (theta and delta), and an increase of the fast activities (alpha and beta-1).