AR-R15896AR blocks the early NMDA-induced loss of MAP2 in primary cortical cultures

Abstract

The low-affinity use-dependent N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist AR-R15896AR is neuroprotective in primary rat cortical cultures exposed to toxic concentrations of NMDA and reduces the magnitude of NMDA-triggered increases in Ca²⁺],. Here we show using fluorescence staining and measurements of microtubule-associated protein-2 (MAP2) levels, that AR-R15896AR inhibits the NMDA- induced loss of MAP2 that occurs within 2 min following NMDA exposure. Understanding the multiple, Ca²⁺-triggered intracellular events that occur following NMDA receptor stimulation is important to the development of safe and effective neuroprotective agents. Neurol Res 1999; 21: 524–528]