Neuropharmacology and Neurotoxicology: PDF Only Ascorbic acid protects neurons from injury induced by glutamate and NMDA Majewska, Maria Dorota; Bell, James A. Author Information Neuropharmacology Laboratory, Neuroscience Branch, Addiction Research Center, National Institute on Drug Abuse, PO. Box 5180, Baltimore, MD 21224 USA NeuroReport 1(3):p 194-196, November 1990. Buy Abstract We have previously shown that redox phenomena regulate the function of the NMDA receptor in the brain and that ascorbic acid (AA) behaves as a receptor antagonist. Here we examined the potential neuroprotective effects of AA against toxicity induced by NMDA and glutamate in rat cerebral cortical neurones in cultures. AA completely protected against injury induced by 100 μM NMDA and markedly reduced cell death induced by 500 μM NMDA or 50 μM glutamate. Dehydroascorbic acid (DHAA) did not provide significant neuroprotection. Hence, we propose that AA may serve in the CNS as a neuroprotectant. © Lippincott-Raven Publishers.
