Effects of flunarizine on cadmium-induced Purkinje cell loss in rats

The effects of the calcium channel blocker flunarizine on cadmium-induced Purkinje cell loss in the cerebellum of rats were investigated. Rats were divided into three groups: control, cadmium, and cadmium+flunarizine. Saline was administered intracortically to the first group, cadmium sulphate (0.0021 mg/kg) to the second group, and cadmium sulphate (0.0021 mg/kg) and flunarizine (1 mg/kg) to the third group. All rats were observed for 1 week, but only the rats in the third group were injected with flunarizine (10 mg/kg/day, i.p.) during this period. One week later, all rats were perfused intracardially. Series of frontal sections from the cerebellum were stained with thionin. Purkinje cells were counted at x 400 magnification under a light microscope. Purkinje cell density was 20.62 +/- 0.68/mm (average +/- SD) in the right hemisphere and 20.56 +/- 0.79/mm in the left hemisphere of the control group; 14.23 +/- 0.34/mm in the right hemisphere and 14.17 +/- 0.44/mm in the left hemisphere of the cadmium group; and 18.46 +/- 0.59/mm in right hemisphere and 17.76 +/- 0.84/mm in left hemisphere of the cadmium+flunarizine group. The results suggest that flunarizine may attenuate Purkinje cell death caused by cadmium (P < 0.05).