[Electrophysiological study of the mechanism of mexidol action].

It has been found that mexidol (5 mM) significantly (96 +/- 2%) depressed excitatory postsynaptic current caused by step depolarization in neurons of medial vestibular nucleus of medulla oblongata slices in young (aged 13 - 17 days) male albino rats. In addition, mexidol (2,5 - 5 mM) depressed by 94 +/- 3% excitatory postsynaptic current caused by Shaffer collaterals stimulation of CA1 pyramidal neurons of hippocampal slices in young rats. Complex MK-801 (non-competitive antagonist of NMDA receptors), in contrast to CNQX (competitive AMPA receptor antagonist), considerably decreased the depressant effect of the drug in both brain structures. Therefore, the central favorable effect of mexidol can be mediated by ion mechanisms with glutamate- and GABA-ergic components, primarily by the inhibition of ion currents through NMDA receptor complex.