Systemic administration of MK-801 prevents N-methyl-D-aspartate-induced neuronal degeneration in rat brain.
MK-801 is a novel, potent and selective non-competitive antagonist of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) subtype of excitatory amino acid receptors. Pretreatment of rats with MK-801 (1-10 mg/kg, i.p.) prevented neuronal degeneration in the hippocampus and striatum caused by direct intracranial injections of NMDA (20-120 nmol), but did not protect against the loss of neurones induced by kainate (2.5 nmol) injected into the striatum. Thus, MK-801 is a selective antagonist of neuronal degeneration caused by excessive stimulation of NMDA receptors in vivo.
Foster
A C
AC
Gill
R
R
Kemp
J A
JA
Woodruff
G N
GN
D000818:Animals; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase / Q000378:metabolism; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D003986:Dibenzocycloheptenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016291:Dizocilpine Maleate; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D007608:Kainic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D016202:N-Methylaspartate; D009410:Nerve Degeneration / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
D003986:Dibenzocycloheptenes; D001224:Aspartic Acid; D016202:N-Methylaspartate; D016291:Dizocilpine Maleate; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase; D007608:Kainic Acid