Attenuation of neuronal death by NMDA and oxygen-glucose deprivation in cortical neurons maintained in high glucose

Glucocorticoids and preterm hypoxic-ischemic brain injury: the good and the bad

Fetuses at risk of premature delivery are now routinely exposed to maternal treatment with synthetic glucocorticoids. In randomized clinical trials, these substantially reduce acute neonatal systemic morbidity, and mortality, after premature birth and reduce intraventricular hemorrhage. However, the overall neurodevelopmental impact is surprisingly unclear; worryingly, postnatal glucocorticoids are consistently associated with impaired brain development. We review the clinical and experimental evidence on how glucocorticoids may affect the developing brain and highlight the need for systematic research.

Effects of glucose concentration on redox status in rat primary cortical neurons under hypoxia

Reduced supply of glucose involves in many pathological conditions such as stroke and contributes to ischemic injuries. In contrast, hyperglycemia has also been regarded as an important factor in causing and exaggerating stroke damage. Although the molecular mechanism(s) of imbalanced glucose-induced cellular injuries under low oxygen conditions are not clear, oxidative stress has been implicated in both hypo- and hypeglycemic damage. Redox status is critical for the regulation of cellular signaling and cell survival. The effects of glucose levels on redox status are not well understood in neurons under hypoxia. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of glucose concentration on the redox status of rat primary neurons under hypoxia. The cellular redox status was determined from GSH/GSSG ratios, and oxidation of 2,3-dichlorofluorscein diacetate was used to assess levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS). We found that glucose levels were critical in regulating redox state in these neurons under hypoxia. The results showed that under hypoxic conditions: (1) there was an optimal glucose concentration (25mM) at which neurons maintained a reducing environment and showed the lowest levels of ROS and cell death; (2) in the concentration range of 0-25mM, the presence of glucose increased cellular GSH/GSSG ratio and reduced ROS and cell death; and (3) over-supply of glucose (25-100mM) elevated ROS levels, produced an oxidizing environment, and increased cell death. These results suggest that cellular redox status regulated by glucose may play an important role in glucose-mediated cellular responses in hypoxia.

The novel neuroprotective action of sulfasalazine through blockade of NMDA receptors

Sulfasalazine is widely used to treat inflammatory diseases. Besides anti-inflammatory actions such as blockade of nuclear factor-kappaB and cyclooxygenases, we found that 30 to 1000 micro M sulfasalazine dose dependently blocked N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor-mediated excitotoxicity without intervening kainate or alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid neurotoxicity. The neuroprotective effects of sulfasalazine were attributable to prevention of Ca(2+) influx and accumulation through N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors as a low-affinity antagonist. The systemic administration of sulfasalazine reduced neuronal death following transient cerebral and retinal ischemia in adult rat. The present findings suggest that the neuroprotective action of sulfasalazine can be therapeutically applied to halt devastating neuronal death following hypoxic ischemia, trauma, and neurodegenerative diseases.