title: In vitro cerebral vasoactive effects of MK-801.
abstract: MK-801, although more consistently neuroprotective in focal ischemia, has had more variable success in the management of global ischemia. This difference could be due to a vasoactive effect that would improve blood flow in focal ischemia but would not be operative in global ischemia. Therefore, a possible direct cerebrovascular effect of MK-801 was investigated in vitro in basilar arteries from 13 dogs and 16 guinea pigs. Two rings were obtained from each animal; in one the endothelium was removed and in the other the endothelium was maintained intact. Each ring was suspended in an organ bath and isometric tension was recorded. After half-maximal contractions with either KCl or 5-hydroxytryptamine, a dose of MK-801 or the same volume of saline was added to the bath. MK-801 concentrations between 0.1 and 1.0 microM had no effect on both canine and guinea pig basilar arteries with or without endothelium whereas concentrations 10-160 microM further contracted the arteries in an endothelium dependent fashion, with the exception of the KCl precontracted endothelium intact canine artery. Higher concentrations of MK-801 tended to dilate the arteries and the dilation was endothelium independent. Thus, MK-801 has dose-dependent cerebral vascular effects and our results may explain some of the conflicting results of MK-801 on CBF.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia, University Hospital, London, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Gelb
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Hamilton
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001488:Basilar Artery / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D016291:Dizocilpine Maleate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004285:Dogs; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects; D011189:Potassium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D012701:Serotonin / Q000494:pharmacology; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists; D012701:Serotonin; D011189:Potassium Chloride; D016291:Dizocilpine Maleate