Peri-infarct blood-brain barrier dysfunction facilitates induction of spreading depolarization associated with epileptiform discharges

► Neocortical stroke in rats opens the BBB in the adjacent hippocampus (12-24 h). ► BBB opening in the hippocampus is associated with SDs and epileptiform activity (EA). ► Hippocampal exposure to serum and albumin in-vivo/in‐vitro is also related to SDs and EA. ► The facilitated induction of SDs is related to excessive potassium accumulation. ► The induction of SDs and EA seems to depend on NMDA receptor activation.