NEUROPROTECTIVE EFFECTS OF OMEGA-AGA-IVA AGAINST IN-VITRO ISCHEMIA INTHE RAT HIPPOCAMPAL SLICE

EXCESSIVE accumulation of Ca2+ in neurones and glutamate release are i nvolved in neuropathological processes, including ischaemia. We invest igated the neuroprotective effects of the Ca2+ channel antagonist, ome ga-Aga-IVA, in CA1 pyramidal neurones in rat hippocampal slices follow ing an in vitro hypoxic-hypoglycaemic insult. Following this insult, e voked post-synaptic response amplitudes decreased from 3.7+/-0.5 mV to 0.6+/-0.2 mV and the CA1 neurones appeared dead using a live/dead flu orescence assay with confocal microscopy. Slices treated with 200 nM o mega-Aga-IVA had evoked response amplitudes not significantly differen t from control (3.3+/-0.5 mV) and the CA1 neurones appeared viable usi ng the live/dead fluorescence assay. The neuroprotective efficacy of o mega-Aga-IVA suggests that omega-Aga-TVA-sensitive Ca2+ channels parti cipate in ischaemic neuronal death and constitute a potential target o f therapeutic intervention.