TY - JOUR AU - Xiao Xiao-qiu AU - Liu Guo-qing PY - 2016 TI - L-pyroglutamic acid protects rat cortical neurons against sodium glutamate-induced injury. JF - Acta Pharmacologica Sinica; Vol 20, No 8 (August 1999): Acta Pharmacologica Sinica Y2 - 2016 KW - N2 - AIM: To evaluate the effects of L-pyroglutamic acid (L-PGA, L-5-oxo-2-pyrrolidinecaroxylic acid) on sodium glutamate-induced neurotoxicity in rat cortical neurons. METHODS: In primary cortical cultures from 16-d-old fetal rat, neuronal viability and contents of nitrite in the bathing medium after transient exposure to sodium glutamate (Glu) were measured; with Fura 2-AM as an intracellular calcium indicator, AR-CM-MIC cation measurement system was used to examine cytosolic free calcium ([Ca2+]i). RESULTS: L-PGA 10-80 mumol.L-1, inhibited Glu (500 mumol.L-1)-induced neuronal loss in a concentration-dependent manner with IC50 value of (41 +/- 9) mumol.L-1 (95% confidence limits: 30.3-54.7 mumol.L-1). L-PGA also attenuated Glu-induced NO release. L-PGA 1, 3, 10, 30, and 100 mumol.L-1 depressed Glu-caused [Ca2+]i elevation by 20.5%, 34.4%, 47.7%, 70.6%, and 80.4%, respectively. CONCLUSION: L-PGA protects cortical neurons against Glu-induced neurotoxity which may be related to inhibition of NO formation or suppression of the rise in [Ca2+]i. UR - http://www.chinaphar.com/article/view/8237