Yao Xue Xue Bao. 1996 ; 31(3): 161-5.

[Protective effect of tetrandrine on neuronal injury in cultured cortical neurons of rats]

Che JT, Zhang JT, Qu ZW.

Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing.

The ability of tetrandrine (Tet), as a Ca2+ antagonist isolated from a traditional Chinese herb, to reduce cortical neuronal injury was quantitatively examined in cell cultures derived from fetal rats by measurement of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) released to the extracellular bathing media. Cell cultures exposed to excitotoxins-glutamate (Glu), N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA), beta-N-oxalylamino-L-alanine(BOAA, on non-NMDA receptors) and beta-N-methylamino-L-alanine(BMAA, on NMDA receptors)-for 24 h showed widespread neuronal injury, which was substantially attenuated by addition of Tet 10(-7)-10(-6) mol.L-1 except to NMDA. Tet failed to protect neurons against NMDA. These results suggest that Tet has protective effect on fetal rat cortical neuronal injury induced by some excitotoxins in vitro. The mechanism of action was hypothesized that opening of Ca2+ channel in cellular membrane would not happen, because of inhibition of Na+ influx and membrane depolarization induced by Tet. As a result, cytosolic free Ca2+ overload and then neuroal injury were prevented or lightened.