Neuroprotective effects of thymosin β4 in experimental models of excitotoxicity

The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible neuroprotective effects of thymosin β4 in different models of excitotoxicity. The application of thymosin β4 significantly attenuated glutamate-induced toxicity both in primary cultures of cortical neurons and in rat hippocampal slices. In in vivo experiments, the intracerebroventricular administration of thymosin β4 significantly reduced hippocampal neuronal loss induced by kainic acid. These results show that thymosin β4 induced a protective effect in models of excitotoxicity. The mechanisms underlying such an effect, as well as the real neuroprotective potential of thymosin β4, are worthy of further investigations. © 2007 New York Academy of Sciences