CA2+-INDUCED INCREASE IN OXIDATIVE-METABOLISM OF DISSOCIATED MAMMALIAN BRAIN NEURONS - EFFECT OF EXTRACT OF GINKGO-BILOBA LEAVES

Effect of an extract of Ginkgo biloba leaves (EGb) on oxidative metabolism was studied using rat brain neurons and 2',7'-dichlorofluorescin fluorescence. Ionomycin (100 nM to 1 muM), a Ca2+-ionophore, dose-dependently augmented the 2',7'-dichlorofluorescin fluorescence in the presence of external Ca2+, but not under the external Ca2+-free condition. Preincubation of neurons with EGb (3 mug/ml) greatly reduced the ionomycin-induced increase in 2',7'-dichlorofluorescin fluorescence. Results suggest that EGb may reduce the Ca2+-induced increase in the oxidative metabolism of brain neurons.