Effects of the 1,4-dihydropyridine-sensitive L-type calcium channel antagonist nimodipine and calcium channel activator Bay K 8644 on local cerebral glucose utilization in the rat.

The quantitative [14C]-2-deoxy-D-glucose autoradiographic method was used to compare the acute effects of the Ca2+ channel antagonist nimodipine (10 mg/kg) and the Ca2+ channel activator Bay K 8644 (1.25 mg/kg) on local cerebral glucose utilization of rat brain after single, intraperitoneal application. Nimodipine reduced glucose metabolism significantly in 23 of the 49 brain regions evaluated.