Vol. 282, Issue 1, 397-402, 1997

MK-801 Limits Neurovascular Dysfunction during Experimental Allergic Encephalomyelitis¹

Christopher Bolton and Carolyn Paul

Pharmacology Group, School of Pharmacy & Pharmacology, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath, United Kingdom

Increased permeability of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a characteristic of the demyelinating disease multiple sclerosis and the animal counterpart experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE). In physically traumatized cerebral tissue neurovascular damage, linked with activation of the cerebroendothelial-bound N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor, can be treated with the antagonist MK-801. We have examined the ability of MK-801 to modify BBB leakage and the development of disease during EAE. Prophylactic MK-801, at 0.15 mg kg¹ body weight suppressed neurovascular breakdown, measured by a dual radioisotope technique, and significantly reduced neurological deficits (P < .05), but not perivascular lesions. A 2-fold increase in administered MK-801 completely prevented abnormal extravasation in cerebella (P < .01) and significantly inhibited BBB disruption in medulla-pons (P < .05) and cervical spinal tissues (P < .01). High-dose treatment also restricted disease development (P < .01) and lesion formation (P < .05). Therapeutic MK-801, at 0.30 mg kg¹ body weight, completely counteracted neuroendothelial leakage in cerebella (P < .05) and inhibited BBB dysfunction in remaining tissues without restricting inflammatory cell invasion. However, doubling the dose did not further enhance suppression of neurovascular breakdown. Our use of MK-801 to control major features of EAE strongly implicates N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor-dependent mechanisms in disease development and prompts consideration of a role for the receptor in the pathogenesis of human demyelinating conditions.