Ds. Warner et al., IN-VIVO MODELS OF CEREBRAL-ISCHEMIA - EFFECTS OF PARENTERALLY ADMINISTERED NMDA RECEPTOR GLYCINE SITE ANTAGONISTS, Journal of cerebral blood flow and metabolism, 15(2), 1995, pp. 188-196
Both in vitro and in vivo experiments have implicated extracellular gl
ycine in the pathogenesis of ischemic brain damage. Recently, halogena
ted derivatives of quinoxaline-2,3-dione have been synthesized that po
ssess bioavailability when parenterally administered and minimal psych
otomimetic properties. Such compounds have allowed investigation into
the efficacy of glycine receptor antagonism as a strategy for protecti
on against cerebral ischemic insults. Rats underwent either 90 min of
middle cerebral artery filament occlusion or 10 min of forebrain ische
mia with recovery while receiving intraperitoneal injections of either
a glycine receptor antagonist (ACEA-1021, ACEA-1031, or ACEA-1011) or
vehicle (dimethyl sulfoxide). Both ACEA-1021 and ACEA-1031 reduced ce
rebral infarct volumes and were associated with a reduced incidence of
hemiparesis resulting from MCA occlusion. ACEA-1011, administered in
a smaller dose had no effect. In the forebrain ischemia model, glycine
receptor antagonism had no effect on delayed neuronal necrosis in the
hippocampal CA1 sector, neocortex, or caudoputamen. We conclude that
pharmacologic antagonism of glycine at the strychnine-insensitive glyc
ine receptor presents a neuroprotective profile similar to that previo
usly observed for antagonists of glutamate at the N-methyl-D-aspartate
complex with a potential for fewer side effects.