Inhibitors of lipid peroxidation protect cultured neurons against cyanide-induced injury.

We tested the 21-aminosteroid U-74500A and the 2-methylaminochroman U-83836E, two potent inhibitors of lipid peroxidation, for their protective efficacy against cyanide- or Fe2+/Fe(3+)-induced damage of cultured neurons from chick embryo telencephalon. U-74500A (0.1-10 microM) as well as U-83836E (0.01-10 microM) reduced cyanide-induced neurotoxicity, indicating that lipid peroxidation plays an important role in the genesis of cyanide-induced neuronal injury. Both U-74500A and U-83836E, but not the NMDA antagonist dizocilpine (1 microM, prevented Fe2+/Fe(3+)-induced neuronal degeneration.