OMEGA-CONOTOXIN GVIA PROTECTS AGAINST ISCHEMIA-INDUCED NEURONAL DEATHIN THE MONGOLIAN GERBIL BUT NOT AGAINST QUINOLINIC ACID-INDUCED NEUROTOXICITY IN THE RAT

Excessive release of neurotransmitters is reported to contribute to th e delayed neuronal death in animal models of cerebral ischemia. Since evidence is accumulating that N-type voltage-sensitive calcium channel s (N-channels) regulate the release of neurotransmitters, we investiga ted the effects of omega-conotoxin GVIA (omega-CTX), an antagonist of N-channels, on delayed neuronal death following transient ischemia in gerbils. Delayed neuronal death in the CA1 subfield of the hippocampus following 5-min ischemia was attenuated by omega-CTX in a dose-depend ent manner when the agent was injected intracisternally 1 hr before is chemia was produced. However, omega-CTX failed to prevent neurotoxicit y produced by a direct injection of quinolinic acid into the hippocamp us in rats. These results suggest that omega-CTX has a neuroprotective effect against ischemic brain injury, which effect probably results f rom its inhibition of the excessive release of neurotransmitters, incl uding excitatory amino acids, during ischemia.