The combination of palmitoylethanolamide (PEA), an endogenous fatty acid amide belonging
to the family of the N-acylethanolamines, and the flavonoid luteolin has been found to exert
neuroprotective activities in a variety of mouse models of neurological disorders, including
brain ischemia. Indirect findings suggest that the two molecules can reduce the activation of
mastocytes in brain ischemia, thus modulating crucial cells that trigger the inflammatory
cascade. Though, no evidence exists about a direct effect of PEA and luteolin on mast cells in
experimental models of brain ischemia, either used separately or in combination. In order to
fill this gap, we developed a novel cell-based model of severe brain ischemia consisting of
primary mouse cortical neurons and cloned mast cells derived from mouse fetal liver (MC/9
cells) subjected to oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD).