Neuroprotection by memantine, a non-competitive antagonist after traumaticbrain injury NMDA receptor in rats

This study investigated whether memantine, a non-competitive NMDA receptor antagonist is neuroprotective after traumatic brain injury (TBI) induced in adult rats with a controlled cortical impact device. TBI led to significan t neuronal death in the hippocampal CA2 and CA3 regions (by 50 and 59%, res pectively), by 7 days after the injury. Treatment of rats with memantine (1 0 and 20 mg/Kg, i.p.) immediately after the injury significantly prevented the neuronal loss in both CA2 and CA3 regions. This is the first study show ing the neuroprotective potential of memantine to prevent the TBI-induced n euronal damage. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.