Neuroprotective effects of galanthamine and tacrine against glutamate neurotoxicity

We examined the mechanisms of the neuroprotective effects of two central-type acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, galanthamine and tacrine, on nitric oxide-mediated glutamate neurotoxicity using primary cultures from the cerebral cortex of fetal rats. Galanthamine and tacrine showed prominent protective effects against glutamate neurotoxicity. Mecamylamine, a nicotinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist, but not scopolamine, a muscarinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist, inhibited the protective effects of these inhibitors on glutamate neurotoxicity. Furthermore, dihydro-beta-erythroidine, an alpha4-nicotinic receptor antagonist, and methyllycaconitine, an alpha7-nicotinic receptor antagonist, inhibited the neuroprotective effects of galanthamine but not tacrine. Next, we investigated the site of action where galanthamine and tacrine prevent glutamate neurotoxicity. Both these acetylcholinesterase inhibitors prevented glutamate- and ionomycin-induced neurotoxicity, but only tacrine prevented S-nitrosocysteine-induced neurotoxicity. These results suggest that galanthamine and tacrine protect cortical neurons from glutamate neurotoxicity via different mechanisms.