AIM To study the relationship between the activity of glutamate transporters and Parkinson's disease (PD), examine whether
a novel ATP sensitive potassium (K ATP) channel opener Iptakalim (Ipt) hydrochloride enhances
glutamate uptake activity, and to investigate its mechanisms. METHODS Rats were stereotaxically injected with 6 hydroxydopamine (6 OHDA) in SNpc. The
synaptosomes from normal and PD rats were isolated, and < 3H> glutamate uptake in synaptosomes was measured by using liquid scintillation counting. RESULTS < 3H> glutamate uptake by synaptosomes from striatum and cerebral cortex of PD rats decreased and the redution was recovered by administration with Ipt (10, 50, 100 μmol·L -1 ). The protective effect of Ipt was blocked by co adiministration with glibenclamide (20 μmol·L -1 ), an inhibitor of sulphonylurea receptors. CONCLUSION Our results demonstrate for the first time the protective role of K ATP channel in glutamate uptake of synaptosomes and conceptually support the view that Ipt may have potential and feasibility in therapy for PD.