The behavioral and anatomical effects of MgCl₂ therapy in an electrolytic lesion model of cortical injury in the rat

Magnesium has been shown to be involved with the processes associated with brain injury and its use in animal models of brain injury has received considerable attention. The present paper reviews the use of MgCl₂ therapy to facilitate behavioral recovery and to reduce subcortical degeneration in an electrolytic lesion model of cortical injury in the rat. Several studies were performed which compared the effectiveness of MgCl₂ to other established neuroprotective agents, examined the preoperative administration of MgCl₂, and examined the effectiveness of MgCl₂ in a lesion model that produces chronic behavioral impairments. The results from these studies indicate that MgCl₂ therapy is effective in facilitating recovery of function and limiting subcortical degeneration, is as effective as other neuroprotective agents, and can induce recovery of function in a chronic lesion model. These results suggest that MgCl₂ therapy is effective in facilitating recovery of function in an electrolytic lesion model of cortical injury.