GTS-21, a Nicotinic Agonist, Protects against Neocortical Neuronal Cell Loss Induced by the Nucleus Basalis Magnocellularis Lesion in Rats
1997 Volume 74 Issue 3 Pages 285-289
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1997 Volume 74 Issue 3 Pages 285-289
Effect of subchronically administered GTS-21 [3-(2, 4-dimethoxybenzylidene)-anabaseine dihydrochloride], a selective nicotinic agonist, on neuronal cell loss caused by nucleus basalis magnocellularis (nBM)lesion was studied in rats. After 2 weeks of bilateral nBM excitotoxic lesion, GTS-21 was orally administered once daily for 20 weeks. Neuronal cell loss was observed in layers 11-111 of the parietal cortex in the lesioned control rats. GTS-21 significantly attenuated the neuron loss in these layers. These results suggest that GTS-21 exhibits a protective action against the neuronal cell death in the parietal cortex and may have a beneficial effect on neurodegenerative disorders such as an Alzheimer-type disease.
