Objective: The effects of lifarizine (RS-87476) and nimodipine on lactate concentrations in ischemic forebrain were evaluated in a rat model of bilateral carotid artery ligation.

Methods: Eighteen rats were randomly assigned to three groups (control, lifarizine treatment, and nimodipine treatment). The animals were anesthetized, the arteries were ligated, and assigned treatments were administered 15 min. later. After 72 hours of assigned treatment and reperfusion, the rats were decapitated and forebrain lactate levels were measured.

Results: The lactate levels in the lifarizine group were significantly lower than control levels (p<0.05). The levels in the nimodipine group were lower than control levels, but the difference was not significant (p>0.05).

Conclusion: These results suggest that lifarizine is more neuroprotective than nimodipine in the setting of focal cerebral ischemia in the rat.