Muscimol prevents neuronal injury induced by NMDA

Jpn J Pharmacol. 1994 Feb;64(2):125-8. doi: 10.1254/jjp.64.125.

Abstract

The effect of muscimol on N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-induced injury of primary cultured cerebral cortical neurons was examined. NMDA induced a dose-dependent leakage of LDH activity, which was significantly inhibited by (+-)-5-methyl-10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo-[a,d]cyclopentan-5,10-imine (MK-801). Muscimol significantly reduced the NMDA-induced increase of lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage, and bicuculline abolished this protective effect of muscimol. Similarly, muscimol reduced the NMDA-induced increase in trypan blue staining of the cells, and bicuculline suppressed this inhibitory action of muscimol. These results suggest that GABAA-receptor stimulation exerts a protective action against the neuronal injury induced by NMDA-receptor activation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Central Nervous System Diseases / chemically induced*
  • Central Nervous System Diseases / enzymology
  • Central Nervous System Diseases / prevention & control*
  • Cerebral Cortex / cytology
  • L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / analysis
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred Strains
  • Muscimol / therapeutic use*
  • N-Methylaspartate / antagonists & inhibitors
  • N-Methylaspartate / toxicity*
  • Neurons / drug effects
  • Neurons / metabolism
  • Neurons / pathology
  • Receptors, GABA-A / drug effects
  • Receptors, GABA-A / physiology
  • Trypan Blue

Substances

  • Receptors, GABA-A
  • Muscimol
  • N-Methylaspartate
  • L-Lactate Dehydrogenase
  • Trypan Blue