Biomedical Chemistry: Research and Methods, 2018, 1(3), e00045
The 40th Anniversary of the Institute of Physiologically Active Compounds of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Protective Action of the Extract of Blueberry Leaves Against Glutamate Excitotoxicity on Neurons of the Rat Cerebral Cortex

N.N. Lermontova, L.N. Petrova, Т.P. Serkova, O.V. Novikova, I.M. Bravova, M.E. Neganova, S.G. Klochkov*

Institute of Physiologically Active Compounds of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 1 Severny proezd, Moscow region, Chernogolovka, 142432 Russia;*e-mail: e-mail: klochkov@ipac.ac.ru

Key words: extract; blueberry; cultured neurons; glutamate; MK-801; excitotoxicity

DOI: 10.18097/BMCRM00045

The whole version of this paper is available in Russian.

The aqueous extract of blueberry leaves inhibits the glutamate-induced Ca2 + influx into the synaptosomes of rat brain neurons and the IC50 value of this process is close to the IC50 for MK-801, a well-known noncompetitive antagonist of glutamate NMDA subtype receptors. The aqueous extract of blueberry leaves protected the cultured neurons of the rat cerebral cortex from the neurotoxic effect of glutamate, and the inhibition intensity depended on the incubation time with the extract.

Figure 1. A - before, B -30 min in a medium with 100 μM glutamate, then in a culture medium for 18 hours before shooting. All the neurons died, except one. (Bright field method).

Figure 2. A - before, B -30 min in a medium with 10 μM MK-801 (a specific inhibitor of glutamate receptors); 30 min. in medium with MK-801 + 100 μM of glutamate, then in culture medium with MK-801 18 h before shooting. Neurons are alive (Dark field method).

Figure 3. A - before, B - 30 min in medium with 10 μg of blueberry extract; 30 min. in a medium with a blueberry extract + 100 μM of glutamate, then - in a medium of cultivation with an extract of blueberries 18 hours before shooting. Most neurons are alive. (Dark field method).

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Table 1. Effect of MK-801 and blueberry extract on the capture of 45Ca2+ in the synaptosomes of the cerebral cortex when stimulated with glutamate.

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Table 2. Effect of blueberry leaves (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) extract on the survival of cultured neurons under the action of glutamate. The number of live neurons after incubation with the test substances after 18 h (% of control).

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The equipment of the Center for Collective Use of the Institute of Physiologically Active Compounds of the Russian Academy of Sciences was used. The work was carried out within the framework of the State Proposal 0090-2017-0018.

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