Spare respiratory capacity, oxidative stress and excitotoxicity.

Chronic exposure to glutamate (glutamate excitotoxicity) exacerbates neuronal damage in the aftermath of stroke and is implicated in a variety of neurodegenerative disorders. Mitochondria play a central role in the survival or death of the exposed neuron. Calcium, oxidative stress and ATP insufficiency play closely interlocked roles that may be investigated with primary neuronal cultures.