The short discontinuance of cerebral blood flow causes permanent brain injury and behavioral dysfunction. The hippocampus, specifically the CA1 pyramidal cell layer, is highly vulnerable to ischemic injuries. There is no effective pharmacological strategy for improving brain tissue damage induced by cerebral ischemia. Previous studies reported that pentoxifylline has a neuroprotective effect on brain trauma and it is well known that endogenous estrogen improves stroke outcome during vascular occlusion by exerting both neuroprotective and flow-preserving effects. The possible positive effects of pentoxifylline and endogenous estrogen on behavioral deficit were studied in female Wistar rats in estrous phase subjected to an experimental model of transient global brain ischemia.

Keywords: Pentoxifylline; Spatial memory; Brain ischemia; Estrous phase.