Here, the in vivo neuroprotective effect of riluzole on the intri

Here, the in vivo neuroprotective effect of riluzole on the intrinsic activity of Purkinje cells (PCs) in a rat model of cerebellar ataxia induced by 3-acetylpyridine (3-AP) was studied.

Behavioural assessment tests, histological examination and whole cell patch clamp recording

under current clamp conditions were used to explore the possible protective effect of riluzole against induction of ataxia with 3-AP treatment.

Combined treatment with riluzole and 3-AP not only almost completely prevented the neuronal degeneration in cerebellar Purkinje cells layer but also the development of ataxia, which occurred following injection of 3-AP alone and partially improved www.selleckchem.com/products/ly333531.html the see more motor behaviour in comparison with ataxic rats. The normal firing behaviour and action potential characteristics of Purkinje

neurones were preserved. The amplitude of both fast after hype rpolarization potential (fAHP) and post train after hyperpolarization potential, a marker of slow AHP (sAHP), along with the duration of post train AHP, which play an important role in regulating the firing behaviour were restored to the control conditions. These findings suggest that riluzole-induced neuroprotection may be mediated at least in part by activation of Ca(2+)-dependent K(+) channel function. (C) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.”
“Tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) is the only drug approved for the treatment of thromboembolic stroke, but it might lead to some neurotoxic side effects. tPA is a highly specific serine proteinase, one. of the two principal plasminogen activators and one of the three trypsin-like serine proteinases of the tissue kallikrein family. We have observed that tPA injection

in the SN leads to the degeneration of the dopaminergic neurons in a dose-dependent manner, without affecting the GABAergic neurons. We also found that tPA injected in the substantia nigra of rats produced the disruption of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity, the induction of microglial activation, the loss of astroglia and the expression of aquaporin 4 (AQP4), as well as an increase in the expression of NMDA receptors and the brain derived neurothrophic factor (BDNF). All these effects, along with Methane monooxygenase the changes produced in the phosphorylated forms of several MAP kinases and the transcription factor CREB, and the increase in the expression of nNOS and iNOS observed under our experimental conditions, could be involved in the loss of dopaminergic neurons. (C) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.”
“The central nervous system (CNS) appears to be the critical target of manganese (Mn), and neurotoxicity has been the focus of most of the health effects of manganese. In brain, the mechanism underlying the Mn-induced cell death is not clear.

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