title: Ganglioside GM1 prevents death induced by excessive excitatory neurotransmission in cultured hippocampal pyramidal neurons.
abstract: Rat hippocampal pyramidal neurons in culture, exposed 30 min to Mg(2+)-free, glycine-supplemented medium undergo a selective (about 35%) degeneration over the next 24 h. This neuronal injury appeared to result from excitatory synaptic transmission and subsequent activation of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, as cell death could be blocked by tetrodotoxin and NMDA, but not non-NMDA, receptor antagonists. Ganglioside GM1, which has recently been described to protect against excitotoxin-induced damage, also prevented the death of hippocampal neurons associated with the above phenomenon. Gangliosides may be a novel therapeutic tool for brain injury associated with epileptic-like activity.
authors.affiliation: Fidia Research Laboratories, Abano Terme, Italy.
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Skaper
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Leon
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Facci
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D005677:G(M1) Ganglioside / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005998:Glycine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D007700:Kinetics; D008274:Magnesium / Q000494:pharmacology; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009498:Neurotoxins; D011712:Pyramidal Tracts / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D009498:Neurotoxins; D005677:G(M1) Ganglioside; D008274:Magnesium; D005998:Glycine