Lamotrigine attenuates cortical glutamate release during global cerebral ischemia in pigs on cardiopulmonary bypass

Background The dose-response effects of pretreatment with lamotrigine (a phenyltriazine derivative that inhibits neuronal glutamate release) in a porcine cerebral ischemia model during cardiopulmonary bypass were studied., Methods: Sagittal sinus catheters and cortical microdialysis catheters were inserted into anesthetized pigs, Animals undergoing normothermic cardiopulmonary bypass were pretreated with lamotrigine 0, 10, 25, or 50 mg/kg (n = 10 per group). Fifteen minutes of global cerebral ischemia was produced, followed by 40 min of reperfusion and discontinuation of cardiopulmonary bypass. Cerebral oxygen metabolism was calculated using cerebral blood flow (radioactive microspheres) and arterial-venous oxygen content gradients. Concentrations of microdialysate glutamate and aspartate were quantified; electro-encephalographic signals were recorded. After cardiopulmonary bypass, blood and cerebrospinal fluid were sampled for S-100B protein, and a biopsy was performed on the cerebral cortex for metabolic profile. Results: Lamotrigine caused dose-dependent reductions in systemic vascular resistance so that additional fluid was required to maintain venous return. Concentrations of glutamate and aspartate did not change during reperfusion after 50 mg/kg lamotrigine in contrast to fivefold and twofold increases, respectively, with lower doses. There were no intergroup differences in cerebral metabolism, electroencephalographic scores, cortical metabolites, brain lactate, or S-100B protein concentrations in the cerebrospinal fluid and blood. Conclusions: Lamotrigine 50 mg/kg significantly attenuated excitatory neurotransmitter release during normothermic cerebral ischemia during cardiopulmonary bypass without improving other neurologic parameters. Lamotrigine caused arterial and venous dilation, which limits its clinical usefulness.