Pramipexole Protects Spinal Motor Neuron Death Against Glutamate-Induced Neurotoxicity

Osamu Kano, Ken Ikeda, Kiyokazu Kawabe, Konosuke Iwamoto, Yasuo Iwasaki

Abstract


Background: To determine the possible neuroprotective effect of pramipexole (PPX) against glutamate-induced neurotoxicity, we analyzed the neuroprotective utility of PPX on a postnatal organotypic culture model of rat spinal motor neuron degeneration.

Methods and Results: Treatment with 10-5 M of glutamate resulted in a motor neuron loss and decreased activity of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT). Cotreatment of 10-5 M of glutamate and PPX revealed a protective effect against motor neuron death and decreased activity of ChAT.  

Conclusions: This results show PPX possesses neuroprotective action against glutamate-induced neurotoxicity on spinal motor neuron possibly through a mechanism, which is independent of dopamine receptors but related to antioxidation or scavenging of free radicals. Our data may provide a rationale for designing a therapeutic strategy for neuroprotection against pathologically induced motor neuron death such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and spinal motor neuropathy. 




doi:10.4021/jnr61w


Keywords


Glutamate-induced neurotoxicity; Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; Pramipexole; Spinal motor neuron

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