title: Neuroprotective effect of docosahexaenoic acid on glutamate-induced cytotoxicity in rat hippocampal cultures.
abstract: The neuroprotective effect of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on the glutamate-induced cytotoxicity in rat hippocampal cultures was investigated in the present study. DHA at 5-50 microg/ml successfully protected neurons against the cytotoxicity, markedly increased the cell viability, inhibited both nitric oxide (NO) production and calcium influx, and increased the activities of antioxidant enzymes of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and glutathione reductase (GR). However, it did not alter the levels of glutathione (GSH) as compared to the control. These results suggest that DHA might be a potent neuroprotector. In addition, they may help to improve our understanding of the effect of DHA on neurodegeneration.
authors.affiliation: School of Life Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, PR China.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Zhi-Yong
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.forename: Xiao-Mei
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Zhi-Li
authors.initials: ZL
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000633:toxicity*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D018698:Glutamic Acid