Protective effect of topiramate against hippocampal neuronal damage after global ischemia in the gerbils

The purpose of this study was to examine whether topiramate would reduce neuronal damage after transient global ischemia in the gerbils because topiramate blocks voltage sensitive sodium channels and non-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors and enhances gamma-aminobutyric acid-mediated inhibitory transmission. Both common carotid arteries were occluded for 3 min with microaneurysmal clips. The gerbils were treated with topiramate (50, 100, or 200 mg/kg, i.p.) immediately after ischemia. Neuronal cell damage in the hippocampal CA1 region was evaluated quantitatively 7 days after ischemia. Topiramate at the dose of 50 mg/kg failed to reduce hippocampal neuronal damage. However, topiramate when administered at the dose of 100 or 200 mg/kg significantly reduced hippocampal neuronal damage in dose-dependent manner (P<0.001 and P<0.0005, respectively). These results suggest that topiramate has a neuroprotective effect against neuronal damage following global ischemia in the gerbils.