title: Neuroprotective effects of riluzole: an electrophysiological and histological analysis in an in vitro model of ischemia.
abstract: The protective effects of riluzole against the neuronal damage caused by O2 and glucose deprivation (ischemia) was investigated in rat cortical slices by recording electrophysiologically the cortico-cortical field potential and by evaluating histologically the severity of neuronal death. Five minutes of ischemia determined an irreversible depression of the amplitude of the field potential. In addition, this insult caused a clear enhancement of the number of death cells that were specifically colored with trypan blue (a vital colorant which stains altered cells). We found that riluzole, which by itself depressed the synaptic transmission, neuroprotected when perfused 15-20 min before and during ischemia. In fact, due to the treatment with riluzole, the ischemia-induced irreversible depression of the field potential recovered and less cells were stained with trypan blue. These findings demonstrate that riluzole prevents neuronal death in an in vitro model of ischemia and suggest a therapeutic use of this drug in order to reduce the pathophysiological outcomes of stroke.
authors.affiliation: IRCCS Santa Lucia and Clinica Neurologica, Università di Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Siniscalchi
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zona
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sancesario
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: D'Angelo
authors.forename: Y C
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: N B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Mercuri
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bernardi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002452:Cell Count / Q000187:drug effects; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004594:Electrophysiology; D019706:Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000032:analysis; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D019782:Riluzole / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013997:Time Factors; D014343:Trypan Blue
chemical_list: D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D019782:Riluzole; D014343:Trypan Blue; D005947:Glucose; D010100:Oxygen