Calcium Export from Neurons and Multi-Kinase Signaling Cascades Contribute to Ouabain Neuroprotection in Hyperhomocysteinemia.

Pathological homocysteine (HCY) accumulation in the human plasma, known as hyperhomocysteinemia, exacerbates neurodegenerative diseases because, in the brain, this amino acid acts as a persistent -methyl-d-aspartate receptor agonist. We studied the effects of 0.1-1 nM ouabain on intracellular Ca signaling, mitochondrial inner membrane voltage (φ), and cell viability in primary cultures of rat cortical neurons in glutamate and HCY neurotoxic insults.