Journal
STROKE
Volume 35, Issue 2, Pages 596-600Publisher
LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS
DOI: 10.1161/01.STR.0000113691.32026.06
Keywords
anticonvulsants; corpus striatum; electrophysiology; ischemia; receptors, GABA
Categories
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Background and Purpose - The possible neuroprotective effect of endogenous gamma-aminobutyric acid ( GABA) on the irreversible electrophysiological changes induced by in vitro ischemia on striatal neurons was investigated. In particular, the aim of the study was the characterization of the neuroprotective action of 2 antiepileptic drugs increasing GABAergic transmission such as tiagabine, a GABA transporter inhibitor, and vigabatrin, an irreversible inhibitor of GABA transaminase. Methods - Extracellular field potential recordings were obtained from rat corticostriatal slice preparations. In vitro ischemia was delivered by switching to an artificial cerebrospinal fluid solution in which glucose was omitted and oxygen was replaced with N-2. Results - An irreversible loss of the field potentials recorded from striatal neurons was observed after 10 minutes of ischemia in control solution. Conversely, tiagabine and vigabatrin partially prevented the ischemia-induced field potential loss. Surprisingly, both GABA(A) and GABA(B) receptor antagonists blocked these effects. Accordingly, neuroprotection could be obtained only when GABA(A) and GABA(B) receptor agonists were coapplied, but not when a single agonist was given in isolation. Conclusions - Antiepileptic drugs targeting GABAergic transmission can exert neuroprotective effects against ischemia by increasing endogenous GABA levels and via the activation of both GABA(A) and GABA(B) receptors.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available