DEATH OF CULTURED TELENCEPHALON NEURONS INDUCED BY GLUTAMATE IS REDUCED BY THE PEPTIDE DERIVATIVE CEREBROLYSIN(R)

Glutamate induced neurotoxicity has been proposed to account for the l oss of neurons after ischemia as well as in the cause of neurodegenera tive diseases. We have studied the effects of exogenous glutamate on s urvival of neurons from chick embryo telencephalon, precultured with a peptide derivative for 8 days. The peptide derivative Cerebrolysin(R) is a drug produced by standardised enzymatic breakdown consisting of 80% peptides and 20% amino acids. Toxic effects of acute glutamate exp osure were prevented by Cerebrolysin in a concentration-dependent mann er. 20 and 40 mu l Cerebrolysin produce distinct neuroprotective effec ts. However, 80 mu l Cerebrolysin/ml nutrition medium more than double s neuronal viability compared to untreated control cells. These concen tration-dependent effects of Cerebrolysin were evident even at the lig ht microscopic level.