title: Inhibition of NMDA receptors underlies the neuroprotective effect of ginsenoside Rb3.
abstract: In order to investigate the mechanisms underlying the neuroprotective effect of ginsenoside Rb3, rat hippocampal neurons were primarily cultured, and exposed to 1 mM N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA), cell viability and lactate dehydrogenase leakage were measured. Ca2+ influx was determined by calcium imaging with a laser confocal microscopy. The influences of ginsenoside Rb3 on these variables were examined. Patch-clamp technique was used to observe the effects of ginsenoside Rb3 on NMDA-evoked current. The results show that treatment of Rb3 raised the neuronal viability, reduced the leakage of lactate dehydrogenase, and inhibited NMDA-elicited Ca2+ influx in a dose-dependent manner. In the presence of Rb3, NMDA-evoked peak current was inhibited, and Ca2+-induced desensitization of NMDA current was facilitated. It is suggested that ginsenoside Rb3 could exert a neuroprotective role on hippocampal neurons, a role which was partly mediated by the facilitation of Ca2+-dependent deactivation of NMDA receptors, and the resultant reduction of intracellular free Ca2+ level.
authors: Department of Neuropharmacology, Institute of Nautical Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, China.
authors: Liang-Liang
authors: LL
authors: Peng
authors: Hong-Mei
authors: HM
authors: Shen
authors: Zheng-Lin
authors: ZL
authors: Jiang
authors: Xia
authors: X
authors: Li
authors: Guo-Hua
authors: GH
authors: Wang
authors: Yun-Feng
authors: YF
authors: Zhang
authors: Kai-Fu
authors: KF
authors: Ke
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D036145:Ginsenosides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology; D007424:Intracellular Fluid / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D016202:N-Methylaspartate / Q000494:pharmacology; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D036145:Ginsenosides; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D016202:N-Methylaspartate; C044463:ginsenoside Rb3; D002118:Calcium