Memantine prevents acute radiation-induced toxicities at hippocampal excitatory synapses.

ABSTRACT: Background:Memantine has shown clinical utility in preventing radiation-induced cognitive impairment, but the mechanisms underlying its protective effects remain unknown. We hypothesized that abnormal glutamate signaling causes radiation-induced abnormalities in neuronal structure and that memantine prevents synaptic toxicity. Methods:Hippocampal cultures expressing enhanced green fluorescent protein were irradiated or sham-treated and their dendritic spine morphology assessed at acute (minutes) and later (days) times using high-resolution confocal microscopy. Excitatory synapses, defined by co-localization of the pre- and postsynaptic markers vesicular glutamate transporter 1 and postsynaptic density protein 95, were also analyzed. Neurons were pretreated with vehicle, the N-methyl-d-aspa

SUBMITTER: Duman JG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5892158 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature