L. Monassier et al., MK-801 AND MEMANTINE INHIBIT A CENTRALLY INDUCED INCREASE IN MYOCARDIAL OXYGEN-DEMAND IN RABBITS, European journal of pharmacology, 305(1-3), 1996, pp. 109-113
Electrical stimulation of the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothala
mus in the anaesthetized rabbit induces an increase in indexes of myoc
ardial oxygen demand. This increase in myocardial oxygen demand is due
to the activation of sympathetic pathways which include glutamatergic
relays. In this model, systemic injection of dizolcipine (MK-801) and
memantine inhibited these responses. Because these drugs have only on
e pharmacological property in common i.e. blockade of the NMDA recepto
r channel complex, these results fit with our previous results concern
ing the possible involvement of NMDA receptors in the central control
of sympathetic activation. Memantine appears to be an interesting prot
otype for centrally acting cardioprotective drugs devoid of serious si
de effects.