The antidiabetic sulfonylurea glibenclamide is a potent blocker of the ATP-modulated K+ channel in insulin secreting cells.

The ATP-sensitive K+ channel of RINm5F insulinoma cells is activated after an intracellular ATP depletion. This activation can be followed by 86Rb+ efflux. Once activated by ATP depletion, the K+ channel can be blocked by the hypoglycemic drug, glibenclamide. The blockade is of a high-affinity type (K0.5 = 0.06 nM). Recording of the activity of ATP-sensitive K+ channels with the patch-clamp technique confirmed that they could be completely blocked with 20 nM glibenclamide.