The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
- Volume 5 Issue 5
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- Pages.389-396
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- 2001
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- 1226-4512(pISSN)
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- 2093-3827(eISSN)
Neuroprotection of Lithium is Associated with Inhibition of Bax Expression and Caspase 8 Activation
- Kwon, Gee-Youn (Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Keimyung University) ;
- Kim, Soo-Kyung (Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Keimyung University)
- Published : 2001.10.21
Abstract
Neuroprotective properties of lithium were investigated by using in vivo NMDA excitotoxicity model. The appearance of TUNEL positive cells was prominent within 24 h of NMDA (70 mg/kg, i.p.) injection in the regions of the cortex, hippocampal formation, and thalamus of mouse cerebrum. NMDA treatment resulted in the extensive enhancement of Bax immunoreactivity in the cortical and hippocampal regions. NMDA also increased the immunoreactivity of caspase 8 in the similar regions of the mouse cerebrum. However, the increased immunoreactivity of Bax and caspase 8 were dramatically attenuated by chronic lithium pretreatment (lithium chloride, 300 mg/kg/d, i.p. for