Hippocampus
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The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of spider toxins on brain injury induced by oxygen deprivation and low glucose (ODLG) insult on slices of rat hippocampus. After ODLG insult cell viabilility in hippocampal slices was assessed by confocal microscopy and epifluorescence using the live/dead kit containing calcein-AM and ethidium homodimer and CA1 population spike amplitude recording during stimulation of Schaffer collateral fibers. Spider toxins Tx3-3 or Tx3-4 and conus toxins, omega-conotoxin GVIA or omega-conotoxin MVIIC are calcium channel blockers and protected against neuronal damage in slices subjected to ODLG insult. ⋯ During the ischemic insult, glutamate release from slices was increased by 71% (from 7.0 +/- 0.3 nM/mg of protein control slices not subjected to ischemia to 12 +/- 0.4 nM/mg of protein in slices exposed to ischemia). Tx3-3, Tx3-4, omega-conotoxin GVIA or omega-conotoxin MVIIC inhibited the ischemia-induced increase on glutamate release by 54, 72, 60, and 70%, respectively. Thus Tx3-3 and Tx3-4 provided robust ischemic neuroprotection showing potential as a novel class of agent that exerts neuroprotection in an in vitro model of brain ischemia.