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Neuroprotective activity of acetyl‐L‐carnitine: Studies in vitro
Author(s) -
Forloni G.,
Angeretti N.,
Smiroldo S.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
journal of neuroscience research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.72
H-Index - 160
eISSN - 1097-4547
pISSN - 0360-4012
DOI - 10.1002/jnr.490370112
Subject(s) - neuroprotection , nmda receptor , glutamate receptor , hippocampal formation , kainic acid , medicine , programmed cell death , pharmacology , excitotoxicity , chemistry , endocrinology , anesthesia , biochemistry , apoptosis , receptor
The neuroprotective properties of acetyl‐L‐carnitine (ALCAR) were investigated in primary cell cultures from rat hippocampal formation and cerebral cortex of 17‐day‐old rat embryos. Chronic exposure to ALCAR (10–50 μM), reduced the cell mortality induced by 24 hr fetal calf serum deprivation. Protection was partial when the neuronal cells, chronically treated with ALCAR (50 μM,) were exposed to glutamate (0.25‐1 mM)and kainic acid (250–500 μM) for 24 hr. The neurotoxity induced by N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate (NMDA, 250 μm) was attenuated by the acute co‐exposure with ALCAR (1mM), the chronic treatment with ALCAR (50 μM)significantly reduced the neuronal death induced by NMDA (0.25–1mM) Cell mortality was also investigated in ALCAR‐treated hippocampal cultures chronically treated with β‐amyloid fragment 25–35. ALCAR appeared to have neuroprotective activity. This suggests an explanation of the positive results obtained with ALCAR in the treatment of alzheimer's disease. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.