Cellular model of Neurodegenerative diseases
Chronic glutamate excitoxicity

Newsletter # 81


Cellular models


As opposed to acute and excessive elevations of glutamate which is thought to induce neuronal damage in conditions such as stroke, status epilepticus and neurotrauma, more persistent and milder elevations of glutamate are believed to underly excitotoxicity in neurodegenerative diseases such as ALS.

  • This assumption is supported by Neurofit's finding, as it shows that the unique approved drug for ALS, Riluzole, markedly prevents the neuronal damage induced by chronic exposure (24h) to low glutamate concentrations.


  • Extracellular LDH



  • Release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in the extracellular space is a marker of cellular damage.

    Sustained exposure of neuronal cultures to a low concentration (20 µM) of glutamate induces a dramatic increase in the LDH release which is markedly prevented by the treatment with Riluzole.


    Reviewed in:
     - Excitotoxicity: An Organized Crime at The Cellular Level: DOI:10.21767/2171-6625.1000193
    - Chronic Glutamate Toxicity in Neurodegenerative Diseases - What is the Evidence?:doi: 10.3389/fnins.2015.00469

In addition to ALS, chronic glutamate excitoxicity is also associated with the pathogenesis of other neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Huntignton's disease, Parkinson's disease.


NEUROFIT offers a range of validated in vitro and in vivo screening tests for psychiatry and neurology.

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