Neuroprotective properties of levosimendan in an in vitro model of traumatic brain injury.

Anna B Roehl, Marc Hein, Philipp D Loetscher, Jan Rossaint, Joachim Weis, Rolf Rossaint, Mark Coburn

Index: BMC Neurol. 10 , 97, (2010)

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Abstract

We investigated the neuroprotective properties of levosimendan, a novel inodilator, in an in vitro model of traumatic brain injury.Organotypic hippocampal brain slices from mouse pups were subjected to a focal mechanical trauma. Slices were treated after the injury with three different concentrations of levosimendan (0.001, 0.01 and 0.1 μM) and compared to vehicle-treated slices. After 72 hrs, the trauma was quantified using propidium iodide to mark the injured cells.A significant dose-dependent reduction of both total and secondary tissue injury was observed in cells treated with either 0.01 or 0.1 μM levosimendan compared to vehicle-treated slices.Levosimendan represents a promising new pharmacological tool for neuroprotection after brain injury and warrants further investigation in an in vivo model.