N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonist reduces stroke size and regional glucose metabolism.

Pharmacological inhibition of cell excitation during focal ischemia was studied in the rat middle cerebral artery occlusion model. The potent and selective N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonist CGS 19755, administered 5 minutes prior to or 5 minutes following permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion, caused a substantial decrease in infarct size, which was associated with reduction of postischemic cerebral glucose hypermetabolism. These data support a role for excitation-induced hypermetabolism in the pathogenesis of infarction following focal cerebrovascular occlusion.