Neuroprotective effects of thymosin beta4 in experimental models of excitotoxicity.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible neuroprotective effects of thymosin beta(4) in different models of excitotoxicity. The application of thymosin beta(4) significantly attenuated glutamate-induced toxicity both in primary cultures of cortical neurons and in rat hippocampal slices. In in vivo experiments, the intracerebroventricular administration of thymosin beta(4) significantly reduced hippocampal neuronal loss induced by kainic acid. These results show that thymosin beta(4) induced a protective effect in models of excitotoxicity. The mechanisms underlying such an effect, as well as the real neuroprotective potential of thymosin beta(4), are worthy of further investigations.
Popoli
Patrizia
P
Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena, 299 Rome, Italy. patrizia.popoli@iss.it
Pepponi
Rita
R
Martire
Alberto
A
Armida
Monica
M
Pèzzola
Antonella
A
Galluzzo
Mariangela
M
Domenici
M Rosaria
MR
Potenza
Rosa Luisa
RL
Tebano
M Teresa
MT
Mollinari
Cristiana
C
Merlo
Daniela
D
Garaci
Enrico
E
D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000633:toxicity*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D023421:Models, Animal; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009498:Neurotoxins / Q000633:toxicity*; D051381:Rats; D013947:Thymosin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000099201:Thymosin beta(4)
D018698:Glutamic Acid; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D009498:Neurotoxins; D013947:Thymosin; D000099201:Thymosin beta(4)