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(Stroke. 1999;30:1472-1477.)
© 1999 American Heart Association, Inc.

Original Contributions

The Neuroprotective Effect of the Novel AMPA Receptor Antagonist PD152247 (PNQX) in Temporary Focal Ischemia in the Rat

Gerald P. Schielke, PhD; Nancy C. Kupina, BS; Peter A. Boxer, PhD; Christopher F. Bigge, PhD Devin F. Welty, PhD

From the Departments of Neuroscience Therapeutics (G.P.S., N.C.K., P.A.B.), Chemistry (C.F.B.), and Pharmacokinetics, Dynamics Metabolism (D.F.W.), Parke-Davis Pharmaceutical Research, Division of Warner-Lambert Company, and Department of Surgery (Neurosurgery), University of Michigan (G.P.S.), Ann Arbor, Mich.

Background and Purpose—Evidence suggests that glutamate contributes to ischemic brain damage through activation of the -amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionate (AMPA) receptor. We tested the novel, selective AMPA receptor antagonist PD152247 (PNQX) in a model of temporary focal ischemia to determine the dose-response relationship and to investigate the contribution of drug-induced hypothermia to the neuroprotective action of AMPA receptor antagonists.

Methods—Temporary focal cerebral ischemia was induced in Sprague-Dawley rats by occluding the middle cerebral artery and both carotid arteries for 3 hours. Body temperature was monitored by telemetry. PNQX was administered intraperitoneally or by intravenous infusion with various doses for 6 hours. Lesion volume was determined after 3 days by stereological methods.

Results—PNQX reduced the lesion volume by 51% after intraperitoneal administration. The intravenous dose-response study demonstrated that the lowest effective dose of PNQX was 1.0 mg/kg per hour, which corresponded to a steady state plasma level of 685 ng/mL. Neuroprotection was demonstrated at PNQX plasma concentrations that did not lower body temperature over the entire course of the experiment.

Conclusions—AMPA receptor activation plays an important role in the development of ischemic brain damage. Thus, novel AMPA receptor antagonists may be useful for the treatment of stroke in humans.

Editorial Comment

Costantino Iadecola, MD, Guest Editor

Department of Neurology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota