[Pharmacological approach to a treatment of senescence and cerebrovascular deficiencies related to hypoxia. Application to 5023 SE].

Duxil is a combination of almitrine and raubasine. Almitrine produces an increase of PaO2 in arterial blood, and this beneficial effect on hypoxemia is potentiated by that of raubasine on microcirculation. Pharmacological studies of Duxil in healthy animals and experimental models have demonstrated that the drug increases arterial oxygen supply, improves tissue oxygenation and is capable of correcting vascular and metabolic disorders due to hypoxia. After administration of Duxil to animals whose brain has been severely deprived of oxygen by experimental anoxia or ischaemia, the oxygen supply is sufficient for the brain cells to take up their preferential substrate (glucose) and to use it through the most energy-producing aerobic pathway. Thus, the energy stores (ATP or glycogen) of these cells are spared and above all, their structural integrity is preserved. Their functional activity may be maintained, and this would justify the use of Duxil in mental and behavioural disorders of cerebral senescence and cerebro-vascular diseases related to hypoxia.