ABSTRACT
This chapter suggests that the energy-deprived rat hippocampal slice preparation is sensitive and inexpensive, and is extremly suited for use in the screening of both agonists and antagonists of excitatory amino acid receptors. It is an in vitro system that has been proven over and over to be useful in the study of the pharmacology of cerebral hypoxia-ischemia, hypoglycemia, and excitotoxicity. The survival of hippocampal slices in the incubation/recording chamber is dependent on a continuous and adequate supply of oxygen, glucose, and ions, and the maintenance of physiological pH. The dose of each of the excitotoxins, which causes about 50% “kill” of hippocampal slices when combined with 10-min hypoxia, is harmless under normoxic conditions. The study of the pharmacology and the pharmacotherapy of cerebral hypoxia-ischemia is a relatively new field of research.
