Elevated synaptic activity preconditions neurons against an in vitro model of ischemia.

ABSTRACT: Tolerance to otherwise lethal cerebral ischemia in vivo or to oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) in vitro can be induced by prior transient exposure to N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA): preconditioning in this manner activates extrasynaptic and synaptic NMDA receptors and can require bringing neurons to the "brink of death." We considered if this stressful requirement could be minimized by the stimulation of primarily synaptic NMDA receptors. Subjecting cultured cortical neurons to prolonged elevations in electrical activity induced tolerance to OGD. Specifically, exposing cultures to a K(+)-channel blocker, 4-aminopyridine (20-2500 microm), and a GABA(A) receptor antagonist, bicuculline (50 microm) (4-AP/bic), for 1-2 days resulted in potent tolerance to normally lethal OGD applied up to 3 d

SUBMITTER: Tauskela JS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3259903 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature