Olesoxime protects embryonic cortical neurons from camptothecin intoxication by a mechanism distinct from BDNF.

Background And Purpose: Olesoxime is a small cholesterol-oxime promoting rat embryonic motor neurons survival in the absence of trophic factors. Because olesoxime can substitute for neurotrophic factors in many situations, and to gain further understanding of its mechanism of action, we wondered if it could prevent neuronal death induced by camptothecin (CPT) and compared its effects with those of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF).

Experimental Approach: E17 rat embryonic cortical neurons were treated with olesoxime, BDNF or vehicle and intoxicated with CPT.