Baclofen and potential therapeutic use: studies of neuronal survival.
Up to now, baclofen (a GABA(B) receptor agonist) has been used for the treatment of severe spasticity unresponsive to oral antispasmodics. Although in humans it is usually administered at 2 mg/ml, the dosage to be used in the treatment of other diseases is unknown. For this reason, it is important to determine the safe maximum dosage and toxicity at the clinically used concentration. Primary cortical neurons represent a useful model to test the safety of baclofen. We performed a colorimetric assay (MTT test) as well as electron microscopy investigations, to determine neuronal survival after the treatment with baclofen at a concentration of 2 and 4 mg/ml. Our results demonstrated that, in our experimental model, neither concentration affected neuronal survival. Considering the above results, we can conclude that at the used concentrations, this drug is safe and its clinical use should be encouraged.
Dario
Alessandro
A
Neurosurgical Clinic, University of Insubria, Via L. Borri 57, 21100 Varese, Italy.
Pisani
Rossana
R
Sangiorgi
Simone
S
Soragna
Andrea
A
Reguzzoni
Marcella
M
Protasoni
Marina
M
Pessina
Federico
F
Fesce
Riccardo
R
Peres
Antonio
A
Tomei
Giustino
G
D000818:Animals; D001418:Baclofen / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003124:Colorimetry; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005260:Female; D018755:GABA Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D009125:Muscle Relaxants, Central / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; D013844:Thiazoles
D018755:GABA Agonists; D009125:Muscle Relaxants, Central; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; D013844:Thiazoles; C022616:thiazolyl blue; D001418:Baclofen