BRAIN-DERIVED NEUROTROPHIC FACTOR, BUT NOT NEUROTROPHIN-3, PREVENTS ISCHEMIA-INDUCED NEURONAL CELL-DEATH IN ORGANOTYPIC RAT HIPPOCAMPAL SLICE CULTURES

We have investigated the neuroprotective actions of neurotrophins in a model of ischaemia using slice cultures. Ischaemia was induced in org anotypic hippocampal cultures by simultaneous oxygen and glucose depri vation. Cell death was assessed 24 h later by propidium iodide fluores cence. Pre- but not post-ischaemic addition of brain-derived neurotrop hic factor (BDNF) produced a concentration-dependent reduction in neur onal damage; Neurotrophin-3 was not neuroprotective. These data sugges t that BDNF may form part of an endogenous neuroprotective mechanism.