Nicotine protects against the dexamethasone potentiation of kainic acid-induced neurotoxicity in cultured hippocampal neurons.
To elucidate the neuroprotective effect of nicotine, we investigated whether nicotine may attenuate dexamethasone potentiation of kainic acid-induced neurotoxicity. Primary hippocampal culture was pre-treated with nicotine for 24 h followed by dexamethasone (10(-4) M) for 24 h. Then, cultures were exposed with kainic acid (10(-4) M) and cellular viability was determined by LDH effluxmetry. Nicotine pre-treatment (10(-9)-10(-7) M) dose-dependently attenuated dexamethasone potentiation of kainic acid-induced neurotoxicity. These results may support the epidemiological data suggesting a neuroprotective effect of cigarette smoking on Alzheimer's disease or Parkinson's disease.
Division of Health Sciences, University of the Air, Chiba, Japan. sembaj@u-air.ac.jp
J
J
Semba
R
R
Miyoshi
S
S
Kito
D000818:Animals; D002470:Cell Survival; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004357:Drug Synergism; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D007608:Kainic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009498:Neurotoxins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009538:Nicotine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats / Q000196:embryology
D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D009498:Neurotoxins; D009538:Nicotine; D003907:Dexamethasone; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D007608:Kainic Acid