Effects of specific NOS inhibitors, carboxy-PTIO, and Trolox on MTT reduction by primary cortical mixed cell cultures at 1, 4 and 8 h post Aβ1–42 (10 μM) treatment. Aβ1–42 caused significant MTT reduction decrease when compared to the control (no Aβ or drug exposure). L-NOARG (a) or SMTC (b) treatments did not show significant increase in MTT reduction compared Aβ1–42 alone. L-NIL (c) or 1400W (d) at 1 or 4 h, but not at 8 h, caused significant increases in MTT reductions. Carboxyl-PTIO (e) or Trolox (f) treatment showed significantly higher MTT reduction only at 1 h after Aβ1–42 treatment. MTT levels of L-NIL and 1400W administered at 1 and 4 h after Aβ1–42 treatment, as well as carboxy-PTIO at 1 h post Aβ1–42 treatment were similar to control. Data represent mean±s.e.mean of 4–6 wells from four independent experiments. One-way ANOVA with Bonferroni's multiple comparison test and Student t-test were used to analyse statistical significance. *P<0.01; **P<0.001 compared to Aβ1–42.