L-Glutamate (L-Glu) has been often associated not only to fundamental physiological roles, as learning and memory,
but also to neuronal cell death and the genesis and development of important neurodegenerative diseases. Herein we
studied the variation in the adenosine and metabotropic glutamate receptors expression induced by L-Glu treatment in
rat’s cortical neurons. The possibility to have structural alteration of the cells induced by L-Glu (100 nM, 1 and 10 M)
has been addressed, studying the modulation of microtubule associated protein-2 (MAP-2) and neurofilament heavy
polypeptide (NEFH), natively associated proteins to the dendritic shape maintenance. Results showed that the proposed
treatments were not destabilizing the cells, so the L-Glu concentrations were acceptable to investigate fluctuation in
receptors expression, which were studied by RT-PCR. Interestingly, C60 fullerene derivative t3ss elicited a protective
effect against glutamate toxicity, as demonstrated by MTT assay. In addition, t3ss compound exerted a different effect on
the adenosine and metabotropic glutamate receptors analyzed. Interestingly, A2A and mGlu1 mRNAs were significantly
decreased in conditions were t3ss neuroprotected cortical neurons from L-Glu toxicity. In summary, t3ss protects neurons
from glutamate toxicity in a process that appears to be associated with the modulation of the gene expression of adenosine
and metabotropic glutamate receptors.
