All treated groups reduced neuronal viability after 24 h of exposure. Lipid peroxidation was evaluated through malonaldehyde (MDA) levels at 3, 6, 24 and 48 h of exposure. Our aim was to evaluate, the effect of AEME, cocaine and AEME-cocaine combination on glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) activities after 3 and 6 h of exposure, periods previous to neuronal death. We have previously described AEME neurotoxic effect and its additive effect when co-incubated with cocaine.
Crack cocaine smokers inhale, alongside with cocaine, its pyrolysis product, anhydroecgonine methyl ester (AEME).