OBJECTIVE To study the effect of reduced glutathione(GSH) and oxidized glutathione on
hippocampal neuron death and intracellular
Ca~(2+) level caused by glutamate and clarify its therapeutical mechanism.METHODS Glutamate cytotoxicity model of primary culture neurons from neonatal Wistar rat
hippocampal was used to evaluate the effects of GSH and GSSG on neuron damage caused by Glu and compared with that of MK-801.Trypan blue dye,TUNE labeling and Lactate Dehydrogenase determination were used to evaluate neuron damage.Intracellular Ca~(2+) current was determined with
laser scanning confocal microscopy(LSCM).RESULTS GSH or GSSG cultured with neurons for 3 days could reduce LDH efflux and hippocampal neuons death ratio of induced by Glu,and could inhibit Ca~(2+) influx induced by Glu.But all that could not match that of MK-801.CONCLUSION: Glutathione can protect neurons against Glu damage.Besides as intra-and extra-cellular protective antioxidant,decreasing Ca~(2+) influx induced by Glu is also a mechanism of Glutathione against Glu cytotoxicity.