TROGLITAZONE INHIBITS TYPE-2 K-ATP CHANNEL ACTIVITY AND DEPOLARIZES TOLBUTAMIDE-SENSITIVE NEURONS IN THE RAT VENTROMEDIAL HYPOTHALAMUS

Patch-clamp recording techniques were used to examine the effect of tr oglitazone upon visually identified neurones contained in slices from the rat ventromedial hypothalamus. Bath application of 1-50 mu M trogl itazone depolarised tolbutamide-sensitive neurones in a poorly reversi ble manner. In outside-out patches, troglitazone inhibited K-ATP chann el activity when added to the bath solution. It is concluded that trog litazone is a novel modulator of the type 2 K-ATP channel. (C) 1997 El sevier Science B.V.