Selective NR2B NMDA receptor antagonists are protective against staurosporine-induced apoptosis

Eur J Pharmacol. 2002 Sep 27;452(1):135-6. doi: 10.1016/s0014-2999(02)02327-0.

Abstract

Staurosporine-induced apoptosis was associated with a 20% cellular survival rate in primary rat forebrain cultures. Treatment with the NR2B subunit-selective NMDA receptor antagonist conantokin-G (0.1-1 microM) increased the survival rate up to 78%. No protection was provided by the nonselective NMDA receptor antagonist dizocilpine (0.01-10 microM) but 34-64% cellular survival was provided by ifenprodil (0.01-10 microM), another NR2B subunit-selective antagonist. These results suggest a novel anti-apoptotic mechanism linked to the NR2B receptor subunit.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / drug effects*
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Conotoxins / pharmacology*
  • Dizocilpine Maleate / pharmacology
  • Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / pharmacology*
  • Nerve Degeneration / chemically induced
  • Nerve Degeneration / pathology
  • Piperidines / pharmacology
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Staurosporine / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Staurosporine / pharmacology

Substances

  • Conotoxins
  • Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists
  • NR2B NMDA receptor
  • Piperidines
  • Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate
  • Dizocilpine Maleate
  • conotoxin GV
  • Staurosporine
  • ifenprodil