In a reversible middle cerebral artery occlusion model in rats, the possible efficacy of deferoxamine on radical level and infarct size was investigated.

Deferoxamine was injected intravenously immediately after the occlusion at a doses of 100 mg/kg. It significantly lowered lipid peroxidation in the focal ischemic or reperfused rat brain (p<0.03), reduced the rate of infarction areas (p<0.05) and improved neurological grades (p<0.05).