Do potassium channel activators protect the N-methyl-D-aspartate-induced cerebral vascular dilation after combined hypoxia and ischemia in piglets?
(1) Vascular responses of cerebral arterioles to NMDA after H/I are preserved by pretreatment with NS1619 or aprikalim, indicating a neuroprotective effect. (2) CGRP and papaverine do not preserve the vascular response to NMDA despite causing vasodilation similar to that with NS1619 or aprikalim. This suggests that activation of potassium channels on neurons accounts for the protective effect of potassium channel agonists. (3) Preserved arteriolar dilation to kainate suggests largely intact functioning of neuronal nitric oxide synthase after H/I.
This study indicates that ciclosporin has minimal impact on calcium metabolism in dogs with atopic dermatitis when used at the licensed and clinically effective dosage for 6 weeks.