Abstract: AIM: To observe the effects of NMP, adrug synthesized for Alheimer's Disease in our laboratory, on viability of mouse cortical neurons and provide pro -tection against the excitotoxic effect of kainic acid ( KA )on primary cortical cultures.METHODS: Primary cultured neurons were dissociated from 15 d old mouse em -bryo and plated on 96-well culture-plates for 48 NMF was added in medium for 72 h, and MTT methodwas used to determine the effect of NMF on neuron viability. At the same time, neurons plated on 24-well culture-plates with NMF in the medium treated with or without KA on d 3. Dying cells were identified by trypan blueunder phase contrast microscope and survival rate carneup.RESULTS: NMF increased the viabilityneurons, especially on the dose of 0.1, 1μmol·L^-1, 10nmol·L^-1 and the rate enhanced was 34.7%, 37.4 and 36.7%, respectively; culturing cortical neurons with NMF at 1, and 10 nmol·L^-1 for 4d increase the survivalof neurons at 39.3%, 0.73.5% and decreased the deathrate of cells. Damaged neurons induced by cultured with KA for 30 min showed various changes and higher mortali While pretreated with NMF 0.1, 10nmol·L^-1, 10 nmol·L^-1 for 4d. the cortical neurons were resistant tothe injury of KA and the protective rate were 77. 30%, 80. 10%, and 84. 15%, respectively.CONCLUSION: NMF can increase the viability and survival rate of mousecortical neurons, and decrease the mortality and protectneurons against KA induced neurotoxicity.

Key words: Alzheimer, ', s, disease, :, NMF, :, cortical, neurons, :, kainic, acid, :, survival, rate