PubMed2005
The present study was performed to examine neuroprotective effects of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)(3) receptor antagonists against beta-amyloid protein (25--35)-, a synthetic 25--35 amyloid peptide, induced neurotoxicity using cultured rat cortical neurons. beta-Amyloid protein (25--35) produced a concentration-dependent reduction of cell viability, which was significantly reduced by (5R,10S)-(+)-5-methyl-10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[a,d] cyclohepten-5,10-imine (MK-801), an N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, verapamil, an L-type Ca(2+) channel blocker, and N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor. The 5-HT(3) receptor antagonists, tropanyl-3,5-dichlorobenzoate (MDL-72222, 0.1--10 microM) and N-(1-azabicyclo[2.2.2.]oct-3-yl)-6-chloro-4-ethyl-3-oxo-3,4-dihydro-2H-1,4-benzoxazine-8-carboxamide hydrochloride (Y 25130, 0.05--5 microM), decreased the beta-amyloid protein (25--35) (10 microM)-induced neuronal cell death as assessed by a colorimetric 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and the number of apoptotic nuclei, evidenced by Hoechst 33342 staining. MDL 72222 and Y 25130 inhibited the beta-amyloid protein (25--35) (10 microM)-induced elevation of cytosolic Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](c)) and glutamate release, generation of reactive oxygen species, and caspase-3 activity. These neuroprotective effects of MDL 72222 (10 microM) and Y 25130 (5 microM) were completely blocked by the simultaneous treatment with 100 microM 1-phenylbiguanide, a 5-HT(3) receptor agonist, indicating that the protective effects of these compounds were due to 5-HT(3) receptor blockade. These results suggest that the activation of the 5-HT(3) receptor may be partially involved in beta-amyloid protein-induced neurotoxicity, by membrane depolarization for Ca(2+) influx. Therefore, the blockade of 5-HT(3) receptor with MDL 72222 and Y 25130, may ameliorate the beta-amyloid protein-induced neurotoxicity by interfering with the increase of [Ca(2+)](c), and then by inhibiting glutamate release, generation of reactive oxygen species and caspase-3 activity.