Therapeutic effects of AE0047, a novel calcium antagonist, on progression of brain damage after stroke in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats.

1. The potential of AE0047, a novel calcium antagonist, to remedy brain damage of stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSPs) with signs of stroke was compared with those of nicardipine and hydralazine. 2. AE0047 (1 and 3 mg/kg/day) given daily to diseased SHRSPs prevented mortality and improved neurological symptoms. Histological examination also supported the effectiveness of AE0047 against the progression of the disease. 3. Nicardipine (10 mg/kg/day) and hydralazine (10 mg/kg/day) were less effective than AE0047 in a dose equal to or more than the hypotensive dose, respectively. 4. AE0047 may be beneficial for treating the acute stage of stroke in humans by virtue of its long-lasting hypotensive action and undefined direct actions on the cerebral vasculature.