Neuroprotective effect of[formula omitted] non-competitive antagonists (arylcyclohexylamine derivatives) on human cultured spinal cord cells

Abstract

The non-competitive N-methyl-d-aspartate antagonist cis-Pip/Me 1-[1-(2-thienyl)-2-methyl-cyclohexyl] piperidine (GK11) either in racemic(±) or (−) enantiomeric form has been investigated on survival of human fetal spinal cord cells in culture. The treated cultured cells were processed for immunocytochemical detection of GABA at different time intervals ranging from 3 to 27 weeks. The number of GABA-stained cells was found to be greater in the treated cultures than in the control ones. The qualitative and quantitative morphological features of both control and treated cells were analysed by computer-assisted methods which allowed us to individualize three different populations: 1.(1) all control and treated small neuritic field neurons,2.(2) young control and old treated large neuritic field neurons and3.(3) old control neurons with large neuritic fields.