The objective of the present study was to explore mechanisms responsible for activation of ion conductances in the initial phases of brain ischemia, particularly for the early release of K+ that precedes massive cell depolarization, and rapid downhill fluxes of K+, Na+, Cl-, and Ca2+. As it has been speculated that a K+ conductance can be activated either by an increase in the free cytosolic calcium concentration (Ca2+i) or by a fall in ATP concentration, the question arises whether the early increase in extracellular K+ concentration (K+e) is preceded by a rise in Ca2+i and/or a fall in ATP content. In the present experiments, ischemia was induced in rats by cardiac arrest, the time courses of the rise in K+e and cellular depolarization were determined by microelectrodes, and the tissue was frozen in situ through the exposed dura for measurements of levels of labile metabolites. including adenine nucleotides and cyclic AMP (cAMP), after ischemic periods of 15, 30, 60, and 120 s. Conversion of phosphorylase b to a was assessed, because it depends, among other things, on changes in Ca2+i. The K+e value rose within a few seconds following induction of ischemia, but massive depolarization (which is accompanied by influx of calcium) did not occur until after approximately 65 s. Activation of phosphorylase was observed already after 15 s and before glycogenolysis had begun. At that time, 3',5'-cAMP concentrations were unchanged, and total 5'-AMP concentrations were only moderately increased. The results demonstrate that a K+ conductance is activated at a time when the overall ATP concentration remains at 95% of control values.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)