Fig. 1.

The experimental design shows the seven steps of the neuroprotection assay. 1) Recovery from slice preparation. 2) Recording of initial PSs. 3) BMI or other neuroprotective drug was applied for 1 hour alone or in the presence of an inhibitor. The inhibitors were present 15 min before, during, and for 15 min after BMI application. 4) Drugs were removed by superfusing with ACSF for 1 hour. 5) The excitotoxic stimulus, 0.5 mM NMDA, was superfused for 10 min. 6) NMDA was removed by washing with ACSF for 1 hr during which the slices, depending on the treatment, either recovered the PSs or failed to recover. 7) Recording of final PSs.