SUBSTANCE-P CONTAINING POLYMER IMPLANTS PROTECT AGAINST STRIATAL EXCITOTOXICITY

The present study examined whether substance P (Sub P) could protect a gainst quinolinic acid (QA)-induced lesions of the striatum. as measur ed by a loss of striatal D1 dopamine receptors. Sub P was extruded int o Evac polymer rods for slow release. One 4 mm rod segment was implant ed unilaterally into the striatum of each rat. One week later, animals received a striatal injection of QA (50, 75 or 100 nmol/mul) medial t o the implanted rod. Controls received QA alone. Three weeks later, th ere was a dose-dependent loss of D1 receptors following QA. Sub P rods protected the striatum from QA-induced D1 receptor loss at this time. These results support the neuroprotection role of Sub P on excitotoxi city.