The cognition-enhancer nefiracetam is protective in BDNF-independent neuronal cell death under the serum-free condition.
Cortical cells from embryonic mice (E17) showed a rapid cell-death under the serum-free condition. The addition of nefiracetam at 0.1-10 microM increased the survival activity, while aniracetam at the same concentrations did not. The cell death was characterized to be apoptotic, since dead cells showed nuclear condensation, fragmentation, and TUNEL-positive staining. The nefiracetam-induced anti-apoptotic activity was completely blocked by 1 microM nifedipine or omega-conotoxin GVIA, and partially by 1 microM verapamil. These results suggest that the reported anti-amnesic action of nefiracetam in ischemic animals may be partly attributed to the neuroprotective action.
Fujita
Ryousuke
R
Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Nagasaki University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 1-14 Bunkyo-Machi, Nagasaki 852-8521, Japan.
Takayama
Naoko
N
Ueda
Hiroshi
H
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000166:cytology* / Q000196:embryology; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D018697:Nootropic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011760:Pyrrolidinones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014700:Verapamil / Q000494:pharmacology; D020866:omega-Conotoxin GVIA / Q000494:pharmacology; D020960:omega-Conotoxins / Q000494:pharmacology
D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; D018697:Nootropic Agents; D011760:Pyrrolidinones; D020960:omega-Conotoxins; C058876:nefiracetam; D020866:omega-Conotoxin GVIA; D014700:Verapamil