Figure 1.

MP selectively attenuates oligodendrocyte cell death. A–D, Oligodendrocytes (A, B) or neurons (C, D) grown in the presence or absence of AMPA (200 μm) plus cyclothiazide (100 μm) or STP (0.2 μm) were pretreated for 2 h with vehicle, methylprednisolone (1 μm), or the caspase inhibitor zVAD (50 μm). Oligodendrocyte cell death (assessed by LDH release) induced by treatment with AMPA or STP was attenuated by MP (A) in a dose-dependent manner (B). AMPA- and STP-induced neuronal cell death was not inhibited by MP (C), even at doses that protected oligodendrocytes (D). zVAD inhibited AMPA- and STP-induced cell death for both cell types (A, C). *p < 0.01 compared with control; **p < 0.05 compared with STP or AMPA treatment alone (ANOVA with post hoc Tukey's test). Error bars represent SD. Results were replicated in two independent experiments, using triplicate cultures in each group.