Abstract
The effects of the novel calcium channel antagonist KB-2796, other calcium channel antagonists, an N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)antagonist, non-NMDA antagonists, Mg2+, a Ca2+ -chelator and a calcium channel agonist on neurotoxicity induced by a 10-min application of 100μM glutamate were studied in rat hippocampal primary cell cultures. KB-2796 (0.1 and 1 μM), flunarizine (1 μM), nimodipine (10 μM), MK-801 (0.01-1 μM), Mg2+ (10 mM)and EGTA (10 mM)significantly prevented the neurotoxicity, but 6-cyano-7-nitro-quinoxalinedione (CNQX)(10 μM)and 6, 7-dinitro-quinoxalinedione (DNQX)(10 μM)did not. Bay K 8644 (10 and 100 nM)enhanced the neurotoxicity. These findings indicate that KB2796 protects the neuronal cell from the glutamate-induced neurotoxicity, presumably by blocking the Ca2+ influx into brain neurons.
