EFFECTS OF RILMENIDINE ON CARDIOVASCULAR PARAMETERS IN RATS WITH EXPERIMENTAL HEMORRHAGIC INSULAR STROKE

The insular cortex is involved in modulating the cardiovascular autonomic control. Stroke in this area results in enhanced sympathetic activity, sustained tachycardia, cardiac arrhythmias, and often patient’s premature death. Recently, we have developed a model of experimental hemorrhagic stroke at the insular cortex (ICH) of rats that mimics the post-insular stroke changes observed in humans. Rilmenidine is an antihypertensive drug with central action widely prescribed in the clinic. This drug acts by inhibiting the sympathetic tone in the rostral ventrolateral medulla and also display adjuvant effects on the heart rate.