Figure 2
From: XENON in medical area: emphasis on neuroprotection in hypoxia and anesthesia
Mechanism of Xenon’s neuroprotective action: The underlying mechanism of action which Xenon exerts its neuroprotective effect is based on blockage of NMDA receptors. Without Xenon blockage, increase in cytoplasmic calcium concentration due to overstimulation of NMDA receptors leads to cell death by various pathways. Xenon inhibits these cascades by competitively binding to glycine site of NMDA receptors.