MK-801 does not enhance dopaminergic cell survival in embryonic nigral grafts.

Two groups of hemiparkinsonian rats received grafts of embryonic ventral mesencephalon with or without the addition of the NMDA receptor antagonist (+)dizocilpine hydrogen maleate (MK-801). When added to the cell suspension, a 10 microM concentration of MK-801 did not enhance the survival of tyrosine hydroxylase positive neurones in the grafts. These findings suggest that cell death occurring during nigral transplantation is not primarily due to excitotoxicity.