Elsevier

Brain Research

Volume 911, Issue 1, 17 August 2001, Pages 96-100
Brain Research

Short communication
Neuroprotection by memantine, a non-competitive NMDA receptor antagonist after traumatic brain injury in rats

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0006-8993(01)02617-8Get rights and content

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.

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Acknowledgements

Funded by grants to VLRR (American Heart Association National, 9950086N; American Heart Association Wisconsin Affiliate, 9806376X; the UW-Madison Medical School Research Committee, 161-9587 and the Department of Neurological Surgery, UW-Madison Start-up) and to RJD (National Institute of Health, NS28000 and NS31220).

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