[Metabolic and neurochemical effects of nicergoline on the central nervous system. A review of the experimental studies (author's transl)].

The effects of 10-methoxy-1,6-dimethyl-ergoline-8 beta-methanol(5-bromonicotinate) (nicergoline, Sermion) on the energy metabolism in the animal CNS during and after cerebral hypoxia and ischemia have been studied by various authors by different methodological approaches. For this purpose both electrophysiological (EEG and cortically evoked potentials) and neurochemical parameters (adenylates, creatinphosphate and some intermediates of glycolysis and Krebs cycle) were analysed in dogs and cats. These studies concordantly show that nicergoline exerts a favourable activity during the post-hypoxic and post-ischemic period. In fact the recovery of the electrophysiological and neurochemical parameters is always more rapid in nicergoline-treated animals than in controls. The effects of nicergoline on the EEG pattern, on the energy potential and citrate concentration are particularly interesting.