Method for treating Parkinson's disease employing an ATP-sensitive potassium channel blocker

DETAILED DESCRIPTION What is claimed is: 1.
A method for treating Parkinson's disease, which comprises administering locally to a mammalian species in need of treatment a therapeutically effective amount of a sulfonyl urea which blocks an ATP-sensitive potassium channel in the brain.
2.
The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the sulfonyl urea is administered to the substantia nigra of the brain.
3.
The method as defined in claim 2 where the sulfonyl urea is glyburide (1-??p-?2-(5-chloro-O-anisamido)-ethyl!phenyl!sulfonyl!-3-cyclohexylurea); chlorpropamide(1-?(p-chlorophenyl)sulfonyl!-3-propylurea); glipizide(1-cyclohexyl-3-??p-?2-(5-methyl-pyrazinecarboxamido)ethyl!phenyl !sulfonyl!urea); tolazamide(benzenesulfonamide-N-??(hexahydro-1H-azepin-1-yl)amino!carbonyl !-4-methyl), or tolbutamide(benzenesulfonamide, N-(butylamino)-carbonyl!-4-methyl.
4.
The method as defined in claim 2 wherein the sulfonyl urea is tolbutamide.
5.
The method as defined in claim 2 wherein the sulfonyl urea is administered by infusion into the substantia nigra and blocks the ATP-sensitive potassium channel.
6.
The method as defined in claim 2 wherein the sulfonyl urea is administered into the pars compacta or pars reticulata.
7.
The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the sulfonyl urea is administered locally by injection in the carotid artery or by lumbar puncture or cisternal puncture.
8.
The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the sulfonyl urea blocks the ATP-sensitive potassium channel in the substantia nigra to modify the net activity of the nigrostriatal pathway and thus the control of movement.
9.
The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the sulfonyl urea is administered locally in an amount of from about 0.
1 to about 20 mg/kg/treatment.
10.
A method for controlling movement of a Parkinsonian patient, which comprises administering locally to a Parkinsonian patient in need of treatment, a therapeutically effective amount of a sulfonyl urea which blocks the ATP-sensitive potassium channel in the substantia nigra to modify the net activity of the nigrostriatal pathway to control movement