title: Caspase inhibitors are functionally neuroprotective against oxygen glucose deprivation induced CA1 death in rat organotypic hippocampal slices.
abstract: We have explored the neuroprotective efficacy of the cell penetrant caspase inhibitor, Ac-YVAD-cmk, in a hippocampal slice model of neuronal cell death induced by oxygen and glucose deprivation. Organotypic hippocampal slice cultures were prepared from 8 to 10-day-old rats and maintained for 10 to 12 days in vitro. Pre-treatment with Ac-YVAD-cmk prior to 45 min oxygen and glucose deprivation was neuroprotective as measured by propidium iodide uptake, with an EC(50) between 1 and 10 micromol/l. Ac-YVAD-cmk was also able to preserve synaptic function in the organotypic hippocampal slice cultures 24 h after oxygen and glucose deprivation. Ac-YVAD-cmk prevented the increase in histone-associated DNA fragmentation induced by oxygen and glucose deprivation. Interleukin-1beta did not reverse the protective effect of Ac-YVAD-cmk, and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist alone was not protective. These results show that caspase inhibitors are neuroprotective in a hippocampal slice culture system, using structural, biochemical and electrophysiological endpoints, and that this effect is not a result of inhibition of interleukin-1beta production.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience Research, SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals, New Frontiers Science Park (North), Third Avenue, Harlow, CM19 5AW, Essex, UK. alison_m_ray@sbphrd.com
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Ray
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Owen
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Benham
mesh_terms: D000590:Amino Acid Chloromethyl Ketones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000188:drug therapy; D061945:Caspase Inhibitors; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects*; D015687:Cell Hypoxia / Q000187:drug effects; D002461:Cell Line, Transformed; D015853:Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D053938:DNA Fragmentation / Q000187:drug effects; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005947:Glucose / Q000494:pharmacology; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D010100:Oxygen / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D020521:Stroke / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D000590:Amino Acid Chloromethyl Ketones; D061945:Caspase Inhibitors; D015853:Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; C098738:N-acetyl-tyrosyl-valyl-alanyl-aspartyl chloromethyl ketone; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D005947:Glucose; D010100:Oxygen