Pretreatment with MK-801 or the lazaroid U-83836E does not enhance striatal graft survival

A large proportion of grafted striatal neurons die, and mechanisms by which they succumb may involve excitotoxicity and oxidative stress. We investiga ted the effects of pretreatment of the graft tissue with the N-methyl-D-asp artate (NMDA) receptor antagonist (+)dizocilpine hydrogen maleate (MK-801) and lipid peroxidation inhibitor lazaroid U-83836E on the survival of trans planted striatal neurons. Neither compound increased the survival of grafts , suggesting that NMDA-related excitotoxicity or oxidative stress may not b e primary mediators of cell death in striatal grafts.