The present invention relates to methods for preventing damage to excitable cells following ischemic by administering to a patient who is undergoing or who has undergone an ischemic event an effective amount of a compound which increases a transient potassium (K<+>) conductance in the excitable cells of the patient. The present invention also provides a method for screening for compounds which increase a transient K<+> current in the excitable cells of a patient.
METHODS FOR EFFECTING NEUROPROTECTION USING A POTASSIUM CHANNEL MODULATOR