TY - JOUR AU - Lin Ling AU - Zhang He-Yun AU - Gu Hai-Ming AU - Tang Guo-Zhi AU - Zhang Zu-Xuan AU - Wang Jin-Xi AU - Zhang Wei-Ning AU - Chen Rong-San PY - 2016 TI - Nerve growth factors prevent glutamate toxicity in cortical neuronal cultures JF - Acta Pharmacologica Sinica; Vol 17, No 3 (May 1996): Acta Pharmacologica Sinica Y2 - 2016 KW - N2 - AIM: To determine if nerve growth factors (NGF) can protect against glutamate-induced cortical neuron damage. METHODS: Neuron viability and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) efflux in the bathing medium in primary cultures from 17-d-old mouse fetal cortex were measured to assay NGF effect. Imaging of the calcium indicator dye Fura-2 was used to measure the [Ca2+]i. RESULTS: The LD50 for NGF-free glutamate was 0.2 mmol.L-1 (95% confidence limits 0-1.6 mmol.L-1). In the presence of NGF 60 micrograms.L-1, 59% of the neurons survived in glutamate 1.6 mmol.L-1. The protective effect afforded by NGF was maximal at 60 micrograms.L-1, at which it prevented the elevation in [Ca2+]i. CONCLUSION: NGF protect cortical neurons against glutamate-induced toxicity via ""stabilizing"" [Ca2+]i level or suppression of the rise in [Ca2+]i. UR - http://www.chinaphar.com/article/view/6410