AbstractThe effect of amino acid receptor antagonists on adenosine and inosine outflow evoked by 5 or 10 min ischemia‐like conditions “in vitro” (glucose‐free Krebs solution gassed with 95% N2/5% CO2) was investigated on rat hippocampal slices. The viability of the slices after ischemia was evaluated by extracellular recording of the evoked synaptic responses in the CA1 region. The NMDA receptor antagonist D(−)‐2‐amino‐7‐phosphonoheptanoic acid (D‐AP7 100 μM) and the non‐NMDA receptor antagonist 6,7‐dinitroquinoxaline‐2,3‐dione (DNQX 10 μM) did not significantly decrease the adenosine and inosine outflow evoked by ischemia. The glutamate uptake blocker dihydrokainate (500 μM) also did not affect the outflow of adenosine and inosine. It is concluded that ischemia‐like conditions “In vitro” evoke and adenosine and inosine outflow, through a mechanism which does not involve excitatory amino acids. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.