Neuroprotective effects of riluzole on N-methyl-d-aspartate- or veratridine-induced neurotoxicity in rat hippocampal slices

Abstract The neuroprotectiveactivity of riluzolehas been studied on N- methyl- d -aspartate (NMDA)- or veratridine-induced toxicity in immature rat hippocampal slices. Neurodegenerationwas assessed by the measurement of LDH release and histology. Veratridine-induced LDH release can be inhibited by 100 μM riluzole(−90%) and by tetrodotoxin(1 μM). Riluzolemarkedly reduced (−59%) the NMDA-induced LDH release and this protective effect was confirmed by histology. Riluzoleinhibited the NMDA-induced LDH release in the presence of tetrodotoxin. Moreover, a pretreatment with pertussis toxin(1 μg/ml) abolished the effect of riluzoleagainst NMDA-induced neurotoxicity. These results support the view that the neuroprotectiveproperties of riluzolecould be exerted via two distinct mechanisms of action.