title: Neuron-specific enolase as a marker of in vitro neuronal damage. Part II: Investigation of the astrocyte protective effect against kainate-induced neurotoxicity.
abstract: The protective effect of astrocytes on hippocampal neurons against kainate-induced toxicity was investigated using neuron-specific enolase as an indicator of neuronal death. Astrocyte-rich and astrocyte-poor mixed rat hippocampal cultures were submitted to various concentrations of kainate. At each kainate concentration, the amount of NSE released by neurons was significantly greater in astrocyte-poor than in astrocyte-rich cultures (p < 0.05). This protective effect was not observed when neuronal survival was tested on astrocyte-poor cultures in astrocyte-conditioned culture medium with or without 10(-4) M kainate. In conclusion, astrocytes significantly attenuate kainate toxicity on hippocampal neurons, and this effect is not mediated by a diffusible factor.
authors: University Department of Anesthesiology, CHR de la Citadelle, Liege, Belgium.
authors: V
authors: V
authors: Bonhomme
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Hans
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Collette
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Moonen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D015415:Biomarkers; D016923:Cell Death; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D007608:Kainic Acid / Q000506:poisoning*; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase / Q000032:analysis*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase; D007608:Kainic Acid