Blood Flow Changes in the Optic Nerve Head of Albino Rabbits Following Intravenous Administration of Brovincamine Fumarate, an Improver of Cerebral Circulation and Metabolism

Blood flow changes in the optic nerve head of normal, adult albino rabbits following intravenous administration of brovincamine fumarate (BV), an improver of cerebral circulation and metabolism, were investigated employing the hydrogen clearance method. In the BV (0.1 mg/kg)-administered group, the blood flow in the optic nerve head showed a gradual increase immediately after injection and reached a maximal value of 124.2 ± 7.3% against the value before injection at 20 min after injection, followed by a gradual decrease in blood flow. Statistical analysis showed a significant increase (P < 0.05) in blood flow at 10 to 40 min after injection, compared with the value before injection in the BV (0.1 mg/kg)-administered group, but no significant changes in blood flow were observed in either the BV (0.5 mg/kg)-administered group or the control group given no BV throughout the time course. No significant changes in the mean values of the mean blood pressure in the femoral artery, pulse rate, respiratory rate or rectal temperature were observed in any group throughout the experiment. These results indicate the different efficacy of the two doses to the relaxing action of the feeding vessels around the optic nerve head.