Induction of tolerance in rat cortical neurons: hypoxic preconditioning

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Abstract
Sublethal ischemia leads to increased tolerance against subsequent prolonged cerebral ischemia in vivo. In the present study we modeled preconditioning mechanisms in a neuronal‐enriched culture. Damage was significantly reduced (up to 72%) with 1.5 h of oxygen‐glucose deprivation 48–72 h before 3 h oxygen‐glucose deprivation. Tolerance was also elicited by Na+‐K+‐ATPase inhibition. No damage was observed when astroglial or endothelial cells were exposed to hypoxia for 3 and 6 h, respectively. We conclude that hypoxic preconditioning is a robust neuronal phenomenon in vitro with a similar temporal pattern and selective cellular vulnerability as the ischemic tolerance phenomenon shown in vivo.