PROLONGED PREEXPOSURE TO 1-AMINOCYCLOPROPANECARBOXYLIC ACID PROTECTS AGAINST SUBSEQUENT GLUTAMATE TOXICITY IN-VITRO

Sustained 20 h pre-exposure to 1 mM 1-aminocyclopropanecarboxylic acid (ACPC, which was removed 30 min before addition of 25 mu M glutamate) significantly reduced the subsequent neurotoxicity of glutamate in cu ltured forebrain and cerebellar neurons. The magnitude of neuronal pro tection was further enhanced if the neurons pretreated with ACPC were re-exposed to ACPC during glutamate challenge. These results closely r esemble earlier findings with cultured spinal cord neurons and indicat e that these primary cell culture preparations might be suitable for t he assessment of the mechanism(s) underlying chronic ACPC-induced modi fication of the NMDA receptor complex. (C) 1997 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.