Involvement of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor and free radical in homocysteine-mediated toxicity on rat cerebellar granule cells in culture

Won Ki Kim, Young Sook Pae

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

53 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The present study investigates the possible mechanism responsible for the neurotoxicity of D,L-homocysteine in primary culture of rat cerebellar granule cells. Neurotoxicity was assessed by measuring the amount of lactate dehydrogenase released from the cells following homocysteine treatment. D,L-Homocysteine (>300 μM; 16-22 h) induced the release of lactate dehydrogenase from the cells in a concentration-dependent manner. The N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) antagonist (±)-2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoic acid (APV) partially blocked the homocysteine-mediated neurotoxicity. However, the non-NMDA receptor antagonist 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (CNQX) did not block the homocysteine-mediated toxicity. The homocysteine-mediated neurotoxicity was mostly prevented by the co-administration of superoxide dismutase and catalase or catalase alone. The results suggest that homocysteine induces neuronal cell death by stimulating NMDA receptor as well as by producing free radicals.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)117-120
Number of pages4
JournalNeuroscience Letters
Volume216
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1996 Sept 27
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Cerebellar granule cell
  • Free radical
  • Homocysteine
  • Lactate dehydrogenase
  • N-Methyl-D-aspartate

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Neuroscience(all)

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