Neuroprotection by memantine, a non-competitive NMDA receptor antagonist after traumatic brain injury in rats.
Rao VL, Dogan A, Todd KG, Bowen KK, Dempsey RJ.
Department of Neurological Surgery,
University of Wisconsin-Madison,
H4/336 CSC, 600 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53792.
Brain Res 2001 Aug 17;911(1):96-100
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.