Nerve growth factors prevent glutamate toxicity in cortical neuronal cultures.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if nerve growth factors (NGF) can protect against glutamate-induced cortical neuron damage.


METHODS
Neuron viability and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) efflux in the bathing medium in primary cultures from 17-d-old mouse fetal cortex were measured to assay NGF effect. Imaging of the calcium indicator dye Fura-2 was used to measure the [Ca2+]i.


RESULTS
The LD50 for NGF-free glutamate was 0.2 mmol.L-1 (95% confidence limits 0-1.6 mmol.L-1). In the presence of NGF 60 micrograms.L-1, 59% of the neurons survived in glutamate 1.6 mmol.L-1. The protective effect afforded by NGF was maximal at 60 micrograms.L-1, at which it prevented the elevation in [Ca2+]i.


CONCLUSIONS
NGF protect cortical neurons against glutamate-induced toxicity via "stabilizing" [Ca2+]i level or suppression of the rise in [Ca2+]i.
Lin
L
L
School of Medicine, Nanjing University, China.
Zhang
H Y
HY
Gu
H M
HM
Tang
G Z
GZ
Zhang
Z X
ZX
Wang
J X
JX
Zhang
W N
WN
Chen
R S
RS
D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000166:cytology*; D005333:Fetus; D051379:Mice; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D012970:Sodium Glutamate / Q000633:toxicity*
D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D002118:Calcium; D012970:Sodium Glutamate