ATP-sensitive potassium channels are not expressed in brain microvessels.

We used [3H]glibenclamide binding to assess ATP-sensitive K+ channels in isolated cerebral microvessels and in the cerebral cortex of the rat. We found no measurable specific glibenclamide binding in cerebral microvessels despite its abundance in cerebral cortical membranes, implying that ATP-sensitive K+ channels are not present in cerebral microvessels.