Potassium channel opener reduces extracellular glutamate concentration in rat focal cerebral ischemia

The vasodilatory action of potassium channel openers through a membrane hyperpolarizing action is well known, but little is known about the effect of these drugs on ischemia-induced glutamate release in the brain. We evaluated the effects of a potassium channel opener (Y-26763), given intravenously at 0.03 mg/kg/h from 50 min prior to occlusion until 3 h postocclusion, on cerebral blood flow, extracellular glutamate concentration, and infarct volume in rats with focal ischemia. Y-26763 significantly inhibited the increase in extracellular glutamate concentration at 50 and 60 min of ischemia with a significant reduction of mean arterial blood pressure. However, there was no significant difference in blood flow in the core of infarcted cortex or in infarct volume between Y-26763- and vehicle-treated groups. These results suggest that Y-26763 inhibited presynaptic glutamate release through hyperpolarizing the membrane, but infarct volume was not reduced because of insufficient perfusion owing to its hypotensive effect.