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

Brain Res. 2001 Aug 17;911(1):96-100. doi: 10.1016/s0006-8993(01)02617-8.

Abstract

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 significant neuronal death in the hippocampal CA2 and CA3 regions (by 50 and 59%, respectively), by 7 days after the injury. Treatment of rats with memantine (10 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 showing the neuroprotective potential of memantine to prevent the TBI-induced neuronal damage.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brain Injuries / drug therapy*
  • Brain Injuries / pathology
  • Brain Injuries / physiopathology
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / pharmacology*
  • Hippocampus / drug effects*
  • Hippocampus / pathology
  • Hippocampus / physiopathology
  • Male
  • Memantine / pharmacology*
  • Nerve Degeneration / drug therapy*
  • Nerve Degeneration / pathology
  • Nerve Degeneration / physiopathology
  • Neurons / drug effects
  • Neurons / metabolism
  • Neurons / pathology
  • Neuroprotective Agents / pharmacology*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / metabolism

Substances

  • Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists
  • Neuroprotective Agents
  • Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate
  • Memantine