Figure 4.

Effect of G3 and G4 phosphorous dendrimers on NMDA-induced (a) caspase 9 and (b) caspase 3 activities. Neurons were treated with vehicle (V) or the indicated concentration of G3 or G4 phosphorous dendrimers. Then, NMDA (150 µM) was added and incubation continued for 3 h. Caspase activity was determined in total lysates as described in the Materials and Methods section. The data are expressed as the mean + the s.e.m. of three independent experiments. * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, and *** p < 0.001 as compared to NMDA-treated cells in the absence of dendrimers.