DOWN-REGULATION OF IN-VITRO NEUROTOXICITY OF BRAIN MACROPHAGES BY PROSTAGLANDIN E(2) AND A BETA-ADRENERGIC AGONIST

Brain macrophages (BM), a subpopulation of microglia, have the ability to kill neurons by producing reactive oxygen intermediates. Coculture s of neurons and macrophages derived from the cerebral cortex of rat e mbryos were used to look for regulation of BM neurotoxicity. Isoproter enol (10(-7) M), a beta-adrenergic agonist, induced a significant inhi bition of BM neurotoxicity and this effect was abolished in the presen ce of propranolol, a beta-adrenergic antagonist. BM neurotoxicity was also reduced in the presence of prostaglandin E(2) (10(-8), 10(-6) M), a metabolite derived from arachidonic acid. These results suggest end ogenous mechanisms of neuroprotection operating either during developm ent or following lesions. (C) 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.