[The influencing actions of NMDA, MK801 and Ca(2+) on cultured retinal neuron cells].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA), MK801 (non-competitive blocking agent of NMDA receptor) and Ca(2+) on cultured retinal neurons and the interaction of these reagents.


METHODS
NMDA, MK801 and Ca(2+) were singly and jointly added to the retinal neurons after primary culture for 7 days which obtained from 1 - 3 day-old postnatal Sprague-Dawley rat. The cells were identified with anti-neurofilament protein (NF), Thy1.1 and anti-glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) monoclonal anti-body. The effects were assessed quantitatively using the trypan blue exclusion methods.


RESULTS
Neuronal death which induced by 200 micromol/L NMDA and 10 mmol/L Ca(2+) was significantly different from that of the control, 20 micromol/L MK801 had no significant effect on cultured retinal neurons, and did not protect the cell from neurotoxicity of Ca(2+), but could block the neurotoxicty of NMDA.


CONCLUSIONS
NMDA and certain concentration of Ca(2+) are neurotoxic to retinal neurons in the primary cultured. MK801 can block the neurotoxicity of NMDA, but not the neurotoxicity of Ca(2+). Neuronal death induced by Ca(2+) may get through another mechanism.
Liu
Haiquan
H
Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510060, China.
Ge
Jian
J
Yang
Zhikuan
Z
Zhuo
Yehong
Y
Lin
Mingkai
M
D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016291:Dizocilpine Maleate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004347:Drug Interactions; D018690:Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D016202:N-Methylaspartate / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012160:Retina / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000187:drug effects*
D018690:Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D016202:N-Methylaspartate; D016291:Dizocilpine Maleate; D002118:Calcium