PROTECTIVE ACTION OF IDEBENONE AGAINST EXCITOTOXIC DEGENERATION IN CULTURED CORTICAL-NEURONS

The novel free radical scavenger and electron-trapping agent, idebenon e, protects cultured cortical neurons against necrotic degeneration in duced by either a brief exposure to N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) or a p rolonged exposure to kainate. As opposed to the NMDA receptor antagoni st ethyl-10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[a,d]-cyclohepten-5, 10-imine hydroge n maleate (MK801), idebenone rescued cortical neurons even when applie d 30 min after the NMDA pulse, suggesting that the drug interferes wit h the chain of toxic reactions triggered by an excessive stimulation o f excitatory amino acid receptors.