Modafinil modulates GABA-activated currents in rat hippocampal pyramidal neurons
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Updated: Jul 6, 2026

GABA-activated Single-channel and Tonic Currents in Rat Brain Slices
Published on: July 17, 2011
Qing Huang1, Ling Zhang, Hui Tang
1College of Stomatology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China.
Abstract:
Modafinil is a well-known psychoactive drug used to treat narcolepsy, hypoglycemia, cerebral ischemia and Parkinson's disease. Previous studies showed that ATP-sensitive potassium channels (K(ATP)) play a key role in response to cerebral ischemia, hypoglycemia or metabolic inhibition. Modafinil (0.01-1 mM) dose-dependently decreased the GABA-activated currents (I(GABA)). Pretreatment with the K(ATP) channel blocker, glibenclamide (10 microM), significantly reduced the decrease of I(GABA) caused by modafinil. Thus, the inhibitory effect of modafinil on the I(GABA) is indirect by modulating K(ATP) channel activation, at least in part mediated by K(ATP) channel.
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