INDUCTION OF TOLERANCE IN RAT CORTICAL-NEURONS - HYPOXIC PRECONDITIONING

Sublethal ischemia leads to increased tolerance against subsequent pro longed cerebral ischemia in vivo. In the present study we modeled prec onditioning mechanisms in a neuronal-enriched culture. Damage was sign ificantly reduced (up to 72%) with 1.5 h of oxygen-glucose deprivation 48-72 h before 3 h oxygen-glucose deprivation. Tolerance was also eli cited by Na+-K+-ATPase inhibition. No damage was observed when astrogl ial or endothelial cells were exposed to hypoxia for 3 and 6 h, respec tively. We conclude that hypoxic preconditioning is a robust neuronal phenomenon in vitro with a similar temporal pattern and selective cell ular vulnerability as the ischemic tolerance phenomenon shown in vivo. (C) 1997 Federation of European Biochemical Societies.