ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To establish a simple, sensitive in vitro method to evaluate oxygen/glucose deprivation (OGD)-induced injury of brain hippocampal slices in rats. METHODS: Rat hippocampal slices were incubated in 2% 2, 3, 5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) solution after oxygen/glucose deprivation. They were then soaked in a measured volume of ethanol and dimethylsulfoxide (50:50) to extract the TTC formazan Product which was then measured by spectrophotometry. OGD induced LDH release was simultaneously measured. RESULTS: Progressive prolongation of OGD induced hippocampal injury resulted in decreased formazan coloration as determined by spectrophotometry. There was a parallel increase in LDH release, thus a negative correlation in these two products was noted. (r=-0.933,P <0.01). The injury was attenuated in the brain slices pre-treated with nimodipine, dexamethasone, and ketamine, but not ONO-1078. CONCLUSION: Solvent extraction and spectrophotometric quantification of formazan represents an objective measurement of OGD-induced injury of rat hippocampal slices.