A brief exposure to glutamate in vitro causes neuronal death, which makes glutamate a useful tool to evaluate neuroprotective activities. Innoprot excitotoxicity in vitro assay offers the advantage of a rapid analysis of the neuroprotective potential of a molecule. In our assay, we incubate rat primary neurons with test compounds 24 hours before L-glutamate insult. After 24h post-exposure, we analyze different parameters related to all stages of the cell death process. Some of the endpoints we analyze are cell viability, LDH Release, Neurite Outgrowth or Caspase activation.
Excitotoxicty in ALS
ALS is a complex disease and also suggests that ALS is a multifactorial disorder. Excitotoxicity is not the newest hypothesis in the ALS field, but it is one of the most robust mechanisms. Moreover, the therapeutic efficacy of riluzole, the only drug proven to slow disease progression in ALS, is most likely related to its anti-excitotoxic properties. Alterations in excitability have been reported in all types of ALS, so it may be a common disease mechanism. Excitotoxicity would be as a mediator in the disease process, and may arise from changes in synaptic inputs, or alterations in neurons excitability.
Cell line used: Rat primary Neurons
Readout: Neurite Outgrowth, LDH Release, Caspase Activation, Cell Viability
Damage Induction: Glutamate
Type of Assay: Cell-based / Neuroprotection
Assay: ALS, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, CNS, Disease Models